IPOPHL considering enlisting brand owners to help monitor counterfeit goods sold online

THE Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) said it is studying more ways to take down listings for counterfeit products sold in online platforms, including tapping brand owners to aid in monitoring.

On the sidelines of an event last week, IPOPHL Director-General Teodoro C. Pascua said: “We need the brand owners to support that,” he told reporters.

While the sale of counterfeit goods online is increasing, Mr. Pascua noted the lack of sufficient data, which is necessary for authorities to pursue takedown action.

“We need the data on how big the violations are of intellectual property online,” he said.

Mr. Pascua added that the value of counterfeit goods sold online is increasing compared to the growth of fakes carried by physical stores.

“In terms of value, you get more counterfeits in online platforms, rather than physical stores,” he said.

The IPOPHL is seeking measures to strengthen its powers in taking down counterfeit items sold online.

This includes a bill that seeks to expand the IPOPHL’s enforcement powers against distributors of pirated goods and content, which the House Committee on Trade and Industry approved recently.

Currently, the IPOPHL implements a voluntary site-blocking mechanism. Under the authority of Memorandum Order No. 2023-025, it may request internet service providers to disable public access to infringing content. 

“I’m still going to meet with the NCIPR (National Committee on Intellectual Property Rights) to see how we can ramp that up,” Mr. Pascua said.

The IPOPHL has also obtained the commitment of electronic commerce  (e-commerce) platforms like TikTok Shop, Lazada, and Shopee to take down merchandisers that support the proliferation of counterfeit goods.

“They (e-commerce platforms) voluntarily agreed that the moment we notify them that this and that advertiser or merchandiser carries counterfeits, they’ll take it down,” Mr. Pascua said. 

About P472.6 million worth of counterfeit items were seized as of the end of March, IPOPHL reported. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz