Value of seized counterfeit goods down 18% in Jan-Sept

MANILA, Philippines - The value of counterfeit goods seized by the government dropped 18 percent in the January to September period from a year ago, data from the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) showed.
The data released yesterday showed the value of confiscated counterfeit items  by the government amounted to P4.1 billion as of end-September, down from the P5 billion worth of seized goods in the same period last year.
IPOPHL deputy director general Allan Gepty said in a press conference the lower value of seized fake items could be due to better enforcement of IP laws.
“It could be that there is better enforcement now,” he said.
By agency,  the National Bureau of Investigation had the biggest contribution as of end-September with the value of confiscated items estimated at P1.9 billion.
The Bureau of Customs had the second largest contribution as it seized fake items worth P1.1 billion.
Items seized by the Optical Media Board for the period were valued at P976 million while those confiscated by the  Philippine National Police were worth P181 million.
Gepty said accounting for the bulk of the seized counterfeit items were optical media such as digital video discs (DVDs), followed by luxury items like handbags and wallets.
He said that while the value of counterfeit items seized as of end-September were lower compared to last year’s, the IPOPHL expects better numbers in the last quarter of the year.
“Usually in the last quarter of the year, we see more seizures as we approach the Christmas season,” he said.
He said education is the key to prevent the sale and purchase of counterfeit items and to protect IP rights.
If the public is informed of IP rights and are aware of the effects of the use of counterfeit items to health as well as on the economy, he said, individuals would no longer patronize these products.
“We have to correct the notion that buying counterfeit items allows one to save,” he said.
In line with efforts to educate the public of IP rights, the IPOPHL is set to hold the 2nd IP Rights Enforcement Summit at the Edsa Shangri-la on Monday.
Gepty said the government would launch during the summit a manual on the prosecution and investigation of IP rights cases to serve as guide for prosecutors.
Last year, the government seized a total of P8.4 billion worth of counterfeit items.