IPR agency vows to keep Phl out of US piracy list

MANILA, Philippines – The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL), under the leadership of its new director general, vowed to keep the country out of the US government’s Special 301 Watch List in the coming years as it moves to intensify intellectual property rights (IPR) protection and enforcement.

IPOPHL director general Josephine Rima-Santiago said the onset of the digital age has brought new and tougher issues and concerns in IP enforcement.

As such, Santiago said it is necessary to start digital piracy awareness within the families because “that is where values begin and young students must be taught not in the technical and hard-core legalistic manner, but through a softer and more long-lasting approach like the subject of values.”

“To reduce incidence of violations and on-line piracy, there is a need to have a paradigm shift through education.  Education here is not limited to just teaching IP in law schools.  We have to really start education and awareness even down to the elementary level.  I see the dire need to teach our young people about IP,” she said.

The continued improvements in the Philippine IP system has recently put the country among nations that were not cited under the United States Trade Representative (USTR) Special 301 Watch List.

It is the third year that the Philippines is not cited in the list which identifies countries with IPR problems.

“Adopting a holistic and concerted approach in IP enforcement has magnified the results of the efforts done by our partners in government, the members of the National Committee on Intellectual Property Rights, with the active participation of IP rights holders.

These concerted efforts kept us moving forward despite the fact that two agencies, IPOPHL and Optical Media Board did not have permanent heads of office during most of the period of the USTR 301 review,” Santiago said.

Santiago said IPOPHL would continue to implement the action plan on IPR protection and enforcement that would enhance public education and awareness, capacity building for relevant institutions, speedy and quality disposition of cases, as well as strengthening of legal and policy environment.

She said the agency also intends to continuously engage in consultations with stakeholders in the development and enhancement of IPOPHL’s policies and regulations to streamline procedures.