Gov’t Commits on Strengthening Awareness, Respect on IP Rights in PHL

Manila– Government agencies under the National Committee on Intellectual Property Rights (NCIPR) will intensify their efforts and commitment to have public awareness on intellectual property (IP) rights and will strengthen the culture of respect on IP laws in the entire country.

Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) Director General Ricardo Blancaflor told in a press conference Wednesday that these actions will enable the Philippines to sustain its good status in the global IP system and avoid to be listed again in the piracy list of the United States Trade Representative (USTR).

Blancaflor mentioned that currently 54 percent of the public were already aware on IP laws and the agency would want to see 100 percent public awareness on IP laws by the end of this year.

The IPOPHL is also partnering with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in order to encourage town and city mayors to put up model ordinance that will raise awareness on IP laws among their constituents.

”Public awareness is the other half of enforcement,” Blancaflor stressed. “If the public has awareness and respect on IP laws, people will no longer patronize fake goods. Then, those sellers will lose their customers.”

He added that public awareness alone is not enough to halt the influx of counterfeited goods in the country but also to instill and create a culture of respect on IP laws.

The USTR has removed the Philippines in its Special 301 Watch List in time of US President Barack Obama’s state visit in the country.

Blancaflor said with this new status in Special 301 Report, it is expected that Philippines will gain more confidence from investors since the government has the capability to protect companies’ brand and patent.

”We will have more direct investments because the investors will feel that their brands, patents are protected here,” he told.

Further, the decision of USTR to lift the country from its piracy watch list also reflects the government’s enforcement and judicial bodies work in terms of IP laws, according to Blancaflor. (PNA) LGI/KMC