IPOPHL vows to improve IPR enforcement

MANILA, Philippines - The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) vows to continue to improve efforts on IP rights enforcement, even as the country remains out of the latest out-of-cycle review of notorious markets of the office of the US Trade Representative (USTR).

According to IPOPHL deputy director general Allan Gepty, not being part of the 2014 out-of-cycle review of notorious markets of the USTR released on March 5, shows that the country’s hard work is being recognized.

“We see this as another positive enforcement in our relentless drive to reduce piracy and counterfeiting not only in the physical markets, but also online. Supporting our enforcement mandate is the recent implementation of the amendments in the IP law which includes among others, the grant of enforcement functions to IPOPHL and the introduction of vicarious liability in copyright infringement,” he said.

The Philippines was first removed from the list of territories with notorious markets in 2012.

The Quiapo shopping district, Greenhills, Binondo, Makati Cinema Square and 168 Malls were part of the list before 2012.

The out-of-cycle review of notorious markets lists certain physical and online markets around the world which are reported to be involved in substantial copyright piracy and trademark counterfeiting.

The report, which is released by the USTR, allows the US government to promote IP rights enforcement in order to protect innovation and creativity of American businesses as well as jobs.

Physical markets identified in the report are La Salada(Buenos Aires) in Argentina; Galeria Page (Sao Paulo) in Brazil; Jin Long Pan Foreign Trade Garment Market (Guangzhou), Jinshun Garment Market (Guangzhou), Qi Pu Market (Shanghai), Silk Market (Beijing) and Zengcheng International Jeans Market (Zengcheng) in China; La Bahia Market (Guayaquil) in Ecuador; Nehru Place (New Delhi) in India; HarcoGlodok (Jakarta) in Indonesia; Tepito (Mexico City) and San Juan de Dios (Guadalajara) in Mexico; Computer Village Market (Ikeja, Lagos State) and Market and Oke-Arin&Apongbon Markets (Lagos Island, Lagos State )in Nigeria; Ciudad del Este in Paraguay; Talad Nat on Wireless Road (Bangkok) in Thailand; and Uruguay’s free zones.

Among the online markets identified are 4shared.com ( British Virgin Islands), Baixeturbo.org (United Kingdom), Bajui.com and Free-TV-video-online.me (Canada), Catshare.net and Darkwarez.pl (Poland), Cuevana.tv or Storm (Argentina), Ex.ua and Extratorrent.cc (Ukraine), Gigabytesistemas.com and E-nuc.com (Spain), Hardstore.com (Republic of San Marino), Zing.vn (Vietnam), Yyets.com (China) and vK.com (Russia).

Earlier, Gepty said the government would continue to improve IP enforcement to sustain achievements last year.

Last year, the Philippines was taken out of the USTR’s Special 301 Watch List or countries tagged with IP problems, after being continuously placed in the report since 1994.

The value of counterfeit items confiscated by the government also hit a record-high of P13.318 billion last year amid improved efforts to protect IP rights.