IPR violators to be sued, DOJ assures US firm

The Department of Justice recently assured the international business community that the Philippine government will relentlessly prosecute product and brand counterfeiters and infringers of internationally-famous brands in a bid to restore the country’s tarnished reputation.

In an interview, DOJ State Prosecutor Jude Romano said the government has already filed 29 criminal cases involving violations of the provisions of the Intellectual Property Code pertaining to internationally-famous brands against a local businessman. The charges stemmed from complaints by Caterpillar, Inc. of USA, which alleged that the respondent had unlawfully copied its internationally-famous brand and product designs.

Caterpillar said its authentic licensed product, which include heavy-duty shoes, shirts and leather goods are not yet sold locally except in limited quantities at the Duty Free Philippines shops. It warned consumers that locally-sold products in malls all over the country bearing its world-famous Caterpillar and CAT brands are not licensed originals.

Romano said the government is determined to pursue these cases. Earlier, Justice Secretary Hernando Perez and Chief State Prosecutor Jovencito Zuño junked an appeal filed by the respondent, a move which businessmen said was a positive signal to the international investor community that the government is determined to fight product and brand piracy.

Romano admitted that there is a very serious piracy problem in the country. "Everything is being pirated here – from pencils to medicines," he said.

He added that the piracy problem is hurting the country’s image. "Product piracy is not only unfair to Filipino consumers but is also damaging to the reputation of the country in the international market, he pointed out.

Multinational firms invest billions of dollars in research and development, product positioning and brand building; they will not just allow others to copy and paste their trademark on counterfeit goods, he explained.

Romano said in the end, local consumers suffer because international companies victimized by local pirates will not make their original licensed products available in the country.