DTI: Some companies are tolerating piracy

Department of Trade and Industry admitted that some companies tolerate their products being copied and pirated, which are among the reasons of the increasing rate of piracy in the country.

Josh Carol Ventura, chief of the trade and regulatory division of DTI-7 said that a lot of pirated products are being sold in the local markets today, which are among the causes of the downfall of the country's economy.

She said that her office had once talked with a manufacturer of toiletries who claimed that there are imitations of their products but don't want them stopped because their products might be affected as well.

"They don't want it stopped because their sales might be affected as well because consumers might think their products are pirated so they would not buy them anymore," Ventura said, adding that "all things can be pirated."

As far as they want it stopped, she said that they could not do it without the cooperation of the companies concerned and the help of the local government units.

Ventura said that since manufacturers and producers are ones at the forefront, they should be the ones who lead the enforcement of the intellectual property rights law.

"When it comes to IP awareness, there is still a lot things to be done," she noted.

To solve the increasing problem on piracy, the DTI has formed the Intellectual Property Office. The DTI is also planning to come up with intellectual property alliance wherein the trade office will be working closely with the private sector to solve the problem.

"How can we attract investors if the environment is not good for intellectual property? We want to increase the level of awareness of the public and work with the private sector like recording companies," Ventura added.

DTI reported that from 2000 to 2003, piracy rate in the country had rose up to 63 percent, which resulted to millions in losses in the economy. By 2004, Philippines piracy rate soared up to 72 percent placing it fourth among countries in the world with the highest piracy rates.

Ventura said that even though a lot of people know about the existence of piracy, many still buy pirated things because they are cheaper.

"These pirated products are shoddy goods that are not high quality. They are putting down the business of these creators who generate jobs. They are cheap but how long will they last?" she noted. - Wenna A. Berondo