IPOPHL onboards TikTok and two pharma companies in E-Commerce MOU

January 10, 2024

The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) recently facilitated the expansion of the E-Commerce Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the addition of TikTok, Quadgen Pharmaceutical and Greenstone Pharmaceutical HK, Inc.

The signing of their commitment as signatories was done during the Intellectual Property Enforcement Summit recently concluded in November. 

“To our incoming signatories, we hope that signing this MOU marks the beginning of a dynamic and enduring partnership.  You become one with us, as well as the other signatories, in our commitment to enforce IP rights especially in the digital space,” IPOPHL Director General Rowel Barba said during the signing. 

IPOPHL has been in coordination with the three companies with prospects of onboarding them into the growing membership. 

Barba said IPOPHL sees the TikTok Shop, the latest e-commerce platform to join Lazada, Shopee and Zalora, as “critical with influencer marketing booming in the Philippines.” 

TikTok Shop enables businesses of all sizes, especially Filipino MSMEs, to merge content and commerce to create immersive shopping experiences that will allow them to reach a broader market and make real connections with new audiences.

Greenstone Pharmaceutical HK, Inc. manufactures and markets world-class consumer healthcare products. Its pioneering brand, KATINKO, has been a key player in the market in Hong Kong and in the Philippines. 

Meanwhile, Quadgen Pharmaceutical has been serving quality products to clients for more than nine years and continually guarantees the most breakthrough items and medicines. 

“Both companies can help us prevent their counterfeit products from penetrating local markets and supply chains,” Barba added. 

The E-Commerce MOU has been recognized as a successful model in ASEAN for promoting collaboration in combating IP infringement. 

Since its launch in 2021, the E-Commerce MOU has yielded positive results that show how signatories have been taking more active efforts and introducing streamlined processes to take down or request the take down of IP infringing posts.

At present, the MOU has 34 signatories: four e-commerce platforms, 24 brand owners, and six chambers of commerce and industry associations. A copy of the MOU, as well as the list of signatories, is accessible here.