Sony urged to state real reason for not bringing Playstation PSP to RP

Intellectual Property Office Philippines Director-General Adrian Cristobal Jr. criticized yesterday Sony Philippines for making it appear that Sony’s decision not to bring in its popular Playstation PSP to the Philippines is due to rampant piracy.

In an interview with The STAR, Cristobal felt offended at Sony’s insinuation that continued rampant piracy is behind its decision not to bring in its PSP product to the Philippines.

Cristobal pointed out that even though China is known to be more at the forefront of intellectual property rights piracy, Sony still chose to sell its PSP units there because of the huge Chinese consumer market.

Thus, Cristobal argued, Sony’s hesitancy to directly sell its PSP here in the Philippines is due more to lack of market rather than IPR piracy.

Sony Philippines president Hiroaki Kobayashi had previously told The STAR that the continued rampant piracy of its Playstation software is one reason why Sony Japan is hesitant to sell its PSP units in the Philippines .

Kobayashi said that almost all available Playstation software being sold in the Philippines are pirated copies.

Aside from its Playstation software, Kobayashi said, its memory stick for its digital cameras and video cams are also being pirated.

Sony, Cristobal further revealed, has not actually been coordinating closely with IP Philippines in helping crack down on its IPR violators.

Sony, like most other private IPR holders, Cristobal said, privately pursue their own enforcement and prosecution and coordinate more closely with the National Bureau of Investigation and the Philippine National Police.

However, Cristobal appealed to Sony and other recent vocal complainants such as Philip Morris and Levi’s International to coordinate with IP Philippines.

Cristobal noted that the complaints of Sony, Philip Morris and Levi’s appear to be part of a lobby to have the Philippines retained in the United States Trade Representative (USTR) watchlist as the Philippines is currently undergoing its annual review.

The USTR review, Cristobal said, started in February and a report is expected by next month. Cristobal is hoping that the Philippines would be able to "graduate" out of the list, but would not be surprised at the country’s continued retention on the watchlist.