IPOPHL to work with BIR, DTI to strengthen IPR enforcement

MANILA, Philippines - The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) will strengthen the enforcement of intellectual property rights (IPR) this year by working with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to run after vendors of counterfeit and pirated items.

IPOPHL director general Ricardo Blancaflor said in a briefing yesterday that pushing for increased respect for IP is among the agency’s priorities this year.

He said that in line with that policy and for better enforcement of IPR, the IPOPHL has teamed up with the BIR to go after IPR violators and those selling counterfeit and pirated items.

“From now on, the BIR will be with us in running after violators,” he said.

Last month, the IPOPHL and BIR forged an agreement to collaborative on neutralizing the proliferation of counterfeit and pirated items in the market by also subjecting IPR violators to tax investigation.

The two agencies recognize that most IPR violators, especially store owners selling counterfeit or pirated goods, are not paying taxes.

Apart from working with the BIR, Blancaflor said the IPOPHL would also work with the DTI to stop the proliferation of counterfeit or pirated goods.

The DTI, he said, would cancel the business names of enterprises that sell counterfeit and pirated goods.

“Once their business names have been cancelled, the same people can no longer apply for business registration,” he said.

He also said that part of the efforts to increase respect for IP is the cancellation of US visas of businessmen found involved selling counterfeit and pirated products.

“We will also encourage IP filings,” he said.

Last year, the value of counterfeit or pirated items seized by the government reached P5.21 billion, down 38 percent from 2011’s record-high of P8.38 billion.