The Philippines and Japan have collaborated to enhance the former’s local and enforcement ability to detect counterfeit goods. As Japanese businesses have become more interested in expanding into the Philippine market, this program seeks to enhance market surveillance and enforcement activities.

At a seminar organized by the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL), various members of the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), the Japan Patent Office (JPO) and other member companies convened to discuss this latest development. “IPOPHL recognizes the challenges posed by lengthy judicial proceedings in the aftermath of the criminal crackdown. To address these challenges, IPOPHL offers alternative methods of enforcement which can lead to more efficient resolutions,” said newly appointed director general Brigitte M. da Costa-Villaluz who assured them of IPOPHL’s ongoing efforts to build an enforcement regime that with faster and more efficient resolutions.

“These include strengthening collaboration with ecommerce platforms to facilitate the prompt removal of counterfeit listings under the ecommerce memorandum of understanding (MOU) and settling IP disputes through alternative dispute resolution mechanisms such as the IPOPHL’s Mediation Outside Litigation and Rules of Procedure on Resolution of Actions without Provisional Remedies (RAPID Rules) under our Bureau of Legal Affairs,” da Costa-Villaluz added.

Japan is the country’s second-largest trading partner, with a total merchandise trade reaching US$20.74 billion in 2023.

- Excel V. Dyquiangco