Online merchants pushing for stronger collaboration

To boost fight vs counterfeiting

MANILA, Philippines — Online merchants and brand owners plan to step up their collaboration against counterfeiting by amending an E-commerce memorandum of understanding (MOU) facilitated by the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL).

In a statement, the IPOPHL said members of the E-commerce MOU are pushing to change the terms to factor in the broader objectives of the Internet Transactions Act (ITA) for a fairer and safer online space.

This was discussed during the recent annual review and assessment of the E-Commerce MOU.

Under the E-Commerce MOU, the aim is to develop efficient takedown mechanisms by strengthening the coordination between brand owners and e-commerce platform members Lazada, Shopee, TikTok Shop and Zalora.

The MOU members are looking to expand the partnership by putting in place measures to strictly observe existing policy prohibiting prescription drugs from being made available for purchase online.

Another approach being eyed is to have a deeper collaboration with more law enforcement agencies by getting the 15-member National Committee on IP Rights on-board the E-Commerce MOU.

The 15-member NCIPR consists  of the Department of Trade and Industry as chair and the IPOPHL as vice chair, as well as the Department of Justice, Bureau of Customs, Food and Drug Administration, National Bureau of Investigation, Philippine National Police, Optical Media Board, National Book Development Board, Office of the Special Envoy on Transnational Crime, Department of the Interior and Local Government, National Telecommunications Commission, Department of Information and Communications Technology, Bureau of Internal Revenue, and Bureau of Immigration as members.

There are also proposals to standardize methods and metrics in searching counterfeit items.

In addition, brand owners raised concerns on repeat infringers and tactics used by counterfeiters to dodge detection from platforms’ keyword search operations.

IPOPHL said it will help explore how to best operationalize the E-Commerce MOU, taking into account the proposals to be formally submitted by the members once the ITA’s IRR takes effect.

Representatives of TikTok Shop, Shopee and Lazada who participated in the review vowed to continue the collaboration and find new ways to create a safe space for brands and consumers online.

The new terms of the MOU will be decided by its members.

IPOPHL deputy director general Nathaniel Arevalo said “the commitment everyone has shown to explore new terms shows the positive outcomes members have gained from the MOU and the stronger desire to make more strides in tightening collaboration and coordination between platforms and brand owners.”