The Philippines’ intensified initiatives to fight counterfeiting and piracy and bolster intellectual property (IP) protection have gained recognition from the United States Chamber of Commerce (USCC), highlighting the country’s strengthening capacity for coordinated and proactive IP enforcement. 

In its 2026 International IP Index released last month, which maintained the Philippines’ ranking at 36th out of 55 economies, the USCC observed that IPOPHL “has expanded its enforcement powers and is actively partnering with rights holders to more effectively combat physical counterfeiting and online infringement,” sustaining its earlier recognition of the country’s intensified anti-counterfeiting efforts. 

One of the highlights is the E-Commerce Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). Facilitated by IPOPHL, the voluntary agreement establishes a framework for cooperation, including streamlined notice-and-takedown procedures and proactive monitoring of infringing listings between IP rights holders and e-commerce platforms. 

From an initial 12 signatories in 2021, the MOU has now grown to include a total of 118 signatories comprising mainly brand owners, industry associations and major e-commerce platforms such as Shopee, Lazada, Zalora and TikTok Shop. 

The report also highlighted progress in trademark protection, particularly the Philippines’ efforts to safeguard well-known marks. It cited IPOPHL’s recent establishment of a Register of Well-Known Marks, which provides rights holders with greater certainty on the legal status and protection of their brands. Under the IP Code, these marks are protected against the use of identical or similar marks for related goods or services. 

The report also noted that the recent implementation of the Internet Transactions Act should, over time, enable rights holders to protect their IP better online. 

“The US Chamber of Commerce’s recognition of the Philippines’ efforts highlights the progress we have made, but our work is far from over. Rest assured that we will continue to advance proactive measures in protecting brand owners through IPOPHL’s enforcement activities, including the E-Commerce MOU which continues to grow in participation and impact,” said IPOPHL Acting Director General Nathaniel S. Arevalo. 

The USCC report also lauded IPOPHL’s successes in the “expeditious disabling of infringing content online” and “availability of frameworks that promote cooperative action against online piracy” through its Rules on Voluntary Administrative Site Blocking, which first took effect in late 2023.  

The Index also noted the Philippine Senate’s continued deliberation on amendments to the Philippine IP Code that would expand IPOPHL’s capacity for enforcement. 

The report also commended the development of HAPAG-ISIPAN, IPOPHL’s Philippine Intellectual Property Strategy for 2025–2030, which lays the agency’s priorities for reforming the Philippines’ IP environment, emphasizing the importance of IP-intensive industries to socio-economic development and the need for cross-cutting reforms, including legal measures, targeted awareness efforts and stronger support for transforming IP assets into commercialized products. 

“IPOPHL should be commended for its efforts to develop this Vision and, in particular, for recognizing the need for the Philippines to categorize better and measure the aggregate contributions of IP-intensive industries to national economic output and employment,” the report added. # # # (Rawl Maliwat, Communications & Marketing Writer)