QC passes anti-piracy ordinance

The Quezon City Council has approved on third and final reading an ordinance seeking to curtail the manufacturing and sale of pirated or counterfeit goods in the city.

The passage of the measure is in compliance with the directive of Interior and Local Government Secretary Angelo Reyes for local government units to adopt and pass a template anti-piracy ordinance.

The ordinance, which will be submitted to Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. for final approval, was jointly drafted by the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) and Intellectual Property Coalition (IPC). It was endorsed by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Foreign Chambers of Commerce in the Philippines.

Council majority floor leader Ariel Inton Jr., principal author of the proposed ordinance, said the new measure would empower the city mayor, through the Business Permits and Licensing Office, to close down business establishments found selling pirated and fake goods.

The adoption of the template ordinance is included in the 2005 IPR Action Plan, which IPO director general Adrian Cristobal submitted to the US trade representative in the latest bid to downgrade the watchlist rating of the Philippines.

"Piracy and counterfeiting not only cause economic prejudice and demoralization among legitimate businessmen and establishments that offer products dependent on intellectual property protection, but also undermine the city’s strategy for growth and development and result in unrealized revenues and taxes for the government," Inton said.

Nathan Zulueta, chairman and president of the Quezon City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation (QCCCIF), said that due to the limited resources of the national government, it is now necessary for the LGUs to take the initiative and implement a strong anti-piracy campaign.

"With this new law, the efforts of various agencies and law enforcement agencies will now be complemented by the operation of anti-piracy units of the LGUs through the BPLO," Zulueta said.

He pointed out that Quezon City, being the country’s most business friendly city, should once again be congratulated for adopting the template anti-piracy ordinance ahead of other LGUs.