HOTBED OF FAKES: 3 markets placed in EU watchlist

- Advertisement -

The European Union  has listed Baclaran and Divisoria, the Greenhills Shopping Center and the Cartimar Shopping Center in its latest Counterfeit and Piracy Watch List.

This is the first time  Philippine markets have been cited in the biennial list since its launch in 2018, according to the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL).

But  in a similar watch list released last year, the United States Trade Representative’s Notorious Markets for Counterfeiting and Piracy List, Greenhills is the only counterfeiting and piracy hotspot identified in the Philippines.

- Advertisement -

A report released last December 1, the European Commission (EC) said
Baclaran and Divisoria markets in Manila are reported for offering a wide range of counterfeit goods on retail and wholesale basis, in particular shoes, with some stalls allegedly also running online shops offering counterfeit goods.

The report cited  stakeholders’ feedback which said no police actions are taken against the illegal practice practice.

The report also noted shops in the Greenhills and Cartimar shopping malls and in particular the stalls located in their vicinity are reported to sell higher quality counterfeit goods.

Citing data from the National Bureau of Investigation, the EC  said  an April 2022 seizure operation in Greenhills alone uncovered  1 million euros (P59.5 million) worth of possible counterfeit goods. This generated a public pledge to take additional steps to curb down the sale of counterfeits.

Expressing commitment to significantly curb counterfeiting and piracy activities in the local markets flagged by the EC Watch List, IPOPHL director-general Rowel Barba said the agency  will soon engage with the concerned local government units (LGUs) and shopping mall administrators to enjoin them in its crackdown against counterfeiting and piracy.

Barba said IPOPHL also hopes to hold learning sessions for sellers to better understand the socio-economic harms of engaging in IP-infringing activities.

Barba also called on LGUs to fully enforce the IP Code of 1997 and the Department of Interior and Local Government’s (DILG) IP-related issuances.

Memorandum Circular 2020-124 which mandates local offices to issue an ordinance that will allow, among others, the cancellation of business permits and other LGU-issued operational licenses of IP-violating shops.

The DILG has also released Memorandum Circular 2022-055 which directs local offices to adopt their own Anti-Counterfeit and Anti-Piracy Policies which will promote IP respect in the workplace.

The Watch List reflects the results of stakeholder consultations and contains examples of reported marketplaces or service providers whose operators or owners are allegedly resident outside the EU and which reportedly engage in, facilitate or benefit from counterfeiting and piracy.

The aim of the Watch List is to encourage the operators and owners, as well as the responsible local enforcement authorities and governments to take the necessary actions and measures to reduce the availability of IPR infringing goods or services on these markets.

Meanwhile, IPOPHL has maintained its quality management system’s compliance with the International Organization for Standardization’s  9001:2015 Certification for delivering quality service to the public.

Barba credits this to the rapid fulfillment of the agency’s  digitalization.

IPOPHL’s Certification covers the process for the grant of patents and the registration of utility models, industrial designs and trademarks.

Author

- Advertisement -

Share post: