"The IP Case Database is a central repository of data and information on intellectual property cases for strategic and tactical decisions of NCIPR members. We have embarked on this project in the interest of transparency in government operations," Atty. Adrian S. Cristobal Jr., Director General of IP Philippines, said.

The creation of the IP Case Database forms part of the nine-point directive of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in her November 17, 2006 memorandum to the NCIPR, "IP Philippines shall maintain a database and enforcement monitoring system, and consolidate information and reports from other agencies."

In the PNP and NBI module, authorized users can search for existing warrants, draft new files of cases, and access the case master list. The general information field in the module contains details of warrants of arrest, and status or report content that require data from the users.

Some of the information fields that are being accomplished include the complainant or plaintiff, the defendant or accused, search warrant number, enforcement area, seized items, estimated commercial value of the confiscated pieces, and the type of violated law and charged offense.

Similarly, the OMB and BoC module contains the same fields for the input of information with the inclusion of inspection details. Authorized users of the four agencies forward the new cases to the DoJ, which then completes the required fields and submits the accomplished form to the lower courts for appropriate action.

IP Philippines can likewise upload new cases to the database. It can also generate a master list of complainants and defendants, and the list of cases listed by the six agencies. After the completion of data uploading from the agencies scheduled late February, the Intellectual Property Case Database (http://ipcdl.ipophil.gov.ph) can be accessed by IP owners.

The IP Case Database will be launched on February 22 during the first meeting of the Public-Private Partnership Council for Intellectual Property Rights (P³CIPR) in 2007. The council was established in 2005 to serve as a venue for consultation, coordination and cooperation between the government and private sector in strengthening the IP system.

IP Philippines formally turns over the IP Case Database to its partner agencies in the National Committee for Intellectual Property Rights (NCIPR). (From left, seated) Noel delos Reyes, chief of the Anti-Fraud and Commercial Crimes Division of the Philippine National Police; Norman Decampong, supervising agent of the Intellectual Property Rights Division of the National Bureau of Investigation; Pacifico Avenido Jr., deputy director general of IP Philippines; Atty. Willie Sarmiento, IP Unit chief of the Bureau of Customs; Atty. Rosendo Meneses, executive director of the Optical Media Board; Atty. Aileen Marie Gutierrez, senior state prosecutor of the Department of Justice. (From left, standing) Atty. Chester Cinco of IP Philippines; Mario Rariza Jr. of the PNP; Cesar Paday-os of the PNP; Edgardo Sabalvoro of the National Book Development Board; Atty. Marlita Vallesteros-Dagsa of IP Philippines; Cyrus Paul Valenzuela of OMB; Atty. Joselita Mendoza of the DoJ; Atty. Merba Waga of the DoJ; and Atty. Rosalina Aquino of the DoJ.