Value of counterfeit goods confiscated by inter-agency anti-counterfeit body up by 17%  in 2008 
IP Chief vows tighter watch over IP assets in 2009

 Makati, 09 February 2009 – The estimated value of confiscated fake goods seized by the combined operations of the Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Enforcements Units in 2008 is 17.39% more than 2007’s haul. Atty Adrian S Cristobal Jr, Director General of the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IP Philippines), and Vice Chair of National Committee on Intellectual Property Rights (NCIPR) says, “2008 was a good year for IPR enforcement, with our law enforcement agencies exceeding their accomplishments in 2007. Our performance has been improving each year, since we formed this inter-agency enforcement team in 2005, and value fake items run in the billions already.”

Data shows that from 2005 to 2008, the total estimated value of seized fake items amount to Php9,019,407,122.59.

In 2008, the total haul of NCIPR amounted to P3,519,739,148.03 worth of counterfeit items (it was P2,998,353,617.60 in 2007).  It  consisted of 6,958,562 pieces, 6,377 boxes/sacks of assorted fake goods and five (5) replicating machines. There were 2,449 enforcement operations conducted in 426 are as around the country: 1,838 inspections of retail outlets and production areas; 562 search warrants implemented;  8 plant audits;  and 41 warrants of seizure and detention (WSD) served. Of the 426 raids, 13 were conducted in Quiapo, 17 in Binondo, 4 in Metrowalk, 9 in 168 Shopping Mall, 10 in Makati Cinema Square, 12 in St. Francis Square and 4 at the Greenhills Shopping Center. Some 357 more were conducted in other areas.

Year on year, the performance of NCIPR has been on the rise since 2005. In 2006, there was a 17.87% increase in the value of confiscated fake merchandise; a more significant increase was recorded in 2007, which was 121.57%, or a total of P1,645,128,020.64  worth of counterfeit items.

NCIPR, created through Executive Order 736 signed by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in June 2008, is tasked to implement the country’s anti-piracy program. It is Chaired by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). President Arroyo has expressly ordered the NCIPR to intensify regular and effective raids and “spot” inspections on factories that produce illegal optical discs, as well as trademarked and copyrighted goods, seize and destroy pirated and counterfeited goods and equipment used to produce them, and arrest and prosecute perpetrators, leading to deterrent level sentences served. Under EO 736, NCIPR includes: Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), the National Book Development Board (NBDB), and the Bureau of Food and Drug Administration (BFAD). The Philippine National Police (PNP), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Optical Media Board (OMB) and Bureau of Customs (BOC) conduct enforcement operations include inspection, search warrants, plant audits, and warrants of seizure and detention.