IPOPHL, NCIPR to take on online counterfeiting, piracy

 

The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) will set the National Committee on Intellectual Property Rights (NCIPR) moving to crack down on the online selling and distribution of counterfeit and pirated goods, as government regulatory agencies close in on unfettered selling of contraband goods.

 

This was at the center of NCIPR’s discussions in Cebu as it celebrates its 11th founding anniversary on June 21st, with a 2-day workshop for law enforcers and prosecutors.

 

“While the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) is a champion of technological advancement and innovation, we have to face the reality that some unscrupulous players are using the benefits of technology to the detriment of the wider public. Online proliferation of fake and counterfeit goods has long been a problem; it’s time government agencies band together to act on this,” said IPOPHL Director General Josephine R. Santiago.

 

“Seeing the measures taken by Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to bar health products to be sold online, we are emboldened to do the same and actively seek out a dialogue with online intermediaries,” said IPOPHL Deputy Director General Teodoro C. Pascua.

 

Towards this end, the IPOPHL will train its sights and coordinate abilities with its member agencies to exert more effort against the use of online facilities to purvey and market goods and services that violate intellectual property rights including copyright violation through digital media.

 

IPOPHL stressed a coordinated approach is key to undertake the campaign against online selling, particularly aiming to partner with the Department of Trade and Industry whose ambit covers both consumer issues and e-commerce.

 

From January to April, based on the submitted and verified data the NCIPR seized P663.3 million worth of counterfeit and pirated goods, an 89% drop from the P6.5 billion captured in the same period the year before.

 

Per type of good, 65% of the value is taken up by pharmaceutical and personal care products, handbags and wallets comprise 11%, watches and jewelry are at 10.3%, and wearing apparel and accessories make up 4.2%.