The Philippines remains out of the United States watchlist on intellectual property (IP) violators.
This is the 11th year that the Philippines has been delisted by the US Trade Representative
Special 301 Report on Intellectual Property Protection and Enforcement.
The Office of the USTR on April 24 released its 2024 Special 301 Report on the adequacy and effectiveness of US trading partners’ protection and enforcement of IP rights.
The USTR placed seven countries on the Priority Watch List, indicating that serious problems exist in that country with respect to IP protection, enforcement, or market access for US persons relying on IP. These are Argentina, Chile, China, India, Indonesia, Russia and Venezuela.
Twenty countries were on the watchlist.
The report cited an accomplishment of the Philippines when it launched in March a new E-Commerce Bureau under the Department of Trade and Industry intended to focus on protecting consumers and merchants engaged in e-commerce transactions including to protect the sale of fake goods online.
USTR also cited the Philippines for its best practices , particularly on education campaign.
In particular, it cited the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) IP and Citizen Journalism for Schools program for youths, launched a Pirated Inferno comic, and collaborated with stakeholders on an anti-piracy campaign,” the report said.
Another best practice is cited is the IPOPHL’s National Judicial Colloquium on Intellectual Property Adjudication, which included participation from judges from
Australia and Singapore to share best practices.
