EC gives RP satisfactory rating in fight vs IPR infringements

The Philippines’ continued improvement in intellectual property rights (IPR) observance has convinced the European Commission (EC) to rate the country as low priority in IPR infringements and violations.

According to the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) of the Philippines, the European Commission’s recent IPR Enforcement Survey listed the Philippines as a low priority country.

The EC survey was conducted last year with 290 respondents from 63 countries.

The EC survey assessed the state of IPR infringements and how the violations are addressed as a guide for European businesses.

According to IPO Director-General Adrian Cristobal Jr., the EC survey results "recognize the united effort in the campaign against piracy."

The low priority rating by the EC, Cristobal said, "has strengthened the concerned parties’ resolve to be more aggressive in the overall conduct to protect and promote IPR."

The IPO leads the IPR enforcement effort together with the Optical Media Board, National Bureau of Investigation, Department of Justice, Department of Interior and Local Government, National Telecommunications, Bureau of Customs and other concerned organizations through the overall coordinating National Committee for IPR (NCIPR).

The NCIPR has seized more than P1 billion worth of counterfeit good to date this year.

Joining the Philippines in the low priority or Category 3 rating were the other members of the Association of South East Asian (ASEAN) countries, Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Korea. China, however, was classified in the main priority or Category 1.

In the second category were the Russian Federation, Ukraine, Chile and Turkey.

The Philippines had only recently been upgraded by the United States to its Watchlist after previously being in the Special 301 Priority Watchlist.

The US had taken cognizance of the great effort of the Arroyo administration in strictly adhering to intellectual property rights.

The observation of the American Government was relayed to the Philippines by US Trade Representative Director for Southeast Asia and Pacific Affairs David Katz.

He specifically commended the strengthened coordination among the agencies involved in the campaign against piracy, trademark infringement and copyright violations.

The US official took notice of the government’s sustained enforcement campaign on IPR through its various units including the Bureau of Customs, PNP-CIDG, National Bureau of Investigation and the Optical Media Board.

Cristobal said that protecting and promoting IPR would spur the economy further by stimulating innovation and attracting investments that would create jobs for Filipinos and generate income for the government.

Cristobal also said that the government would sustain the tempo in its enforcement campaign.