Phl unlikely to return to US IPR watch list

There is little likelihood the Philippines will return on the US government’s watch list for global piracy hubs in the near future given the government’s sustained and intensified efforts at curbing intellectual property right (IPR) infringements, the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines’ ( IPOPHL) top official said.

In an interview yesterday, IPOPHL director general Josephine Santiago said counterfeiting and piracy remain a concern in the country but not as rampant as in the past.

“For the last three years we have been out of the USTR (United States Trade Representative Special 301 Watch List). I don’t see why they should put us back,” Santiago said.

Last year, the amount of counterfeit products seized in the country through the combined enforcement operations of members of the National Committee on Intellectual Property Rights reached P2 billion, lower than the P13.3billion worth of fake procucts seized in 2014.

From 2010 to 2013, the amount stood at P5.2 billion, P8.4 billion, P5.3 billion and P7.8 billion, respectively.

“The number of operations has not declined, it was maintained. However, the amount depends on the value of items seized. So the number is not an indication of the government becoming more relaxed or lazy,” Santiago said.

Although the USTR remains concerned about the reports of counterfeit products being seized in the country, she said “they know that the effort of the government is still there.”

“We are relentless in our drive but despite being out of the watch list. It is impossible for any country to have zero counterfeit. Even the US has, even developed countries have. But the fact is we are relentless in our drive and we are looking for ways to reduce them,” Santiago said.

As of the first seven months of the year, IPOPHL said counterfeit products seized have already reached an estimated value of P2.82 billion.

Bulk of this amount came from fake watches that were found in warehouses in Manila and Baclaran, the agency said.

The USTR Special 301 Watch List identifies countries with IPR problems.

The Philippines has been taken out of the list since 2014 after the government enacted a series of significant legislative and regulatory reforms that enhanced the protection and enforcement of IPR in the country.

Prior to its removal from the list, the country was either part of the watch list or priority watch list since 1994.