Philippines remains out of US IPR watch list

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines was kept out of the US government’s list of countries with issues on intellectual property rights (IPR) enforcement for the 11th straight year.

The latest Special 301 Report of the US Trade Representative (USTR) showed the Philippines was again not included in the priority watch list and watch list of countries with IP concerns.

Released every year, the Special 301 Report looks at the state of global IP protection and enforcement.

The USTR cited the Philippines’ launch of a new E-Commerce Bureau under the Department of Trade and Industry as a best IP practice.

The E-Commerce Bureau is intended to focus on protecting consumers and merchants engaged in e-commerce transactions, including against the sale of counterfeit goods online.

Also cited as a best IP practice in the report is the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL)’s awareness and educational campaigns.

“In the Philippines, the IPOPHL organized an IP and Citizen Journalism for Schools program for youths, launched a Pirated Inferno comic and collaborated with stakeholders on an anti-piracy campaign,” the USTR said.

The IPOPHL was also cited for its National Judicial Colloquium on IP Adjudication, which included participation of judges from Singapore and Australia to share best practices.