Counterfeiting, piracy complaints down 48% in H1, says IP rights body

The Intellectual Property of the Philippines (IPOPHL) reported on Tuesday a 48-percent drop in the number of complaints of pirating and counterfeiting as of end-June, which it attributed to stricter enforcement of copyright and antipiracy rules.

From 107 reports and complaints recorded in the first half of last year, the IPOPHL said it received only 56 from January to June this year.

“Mechanisms in place are working. For example, e-commerce platforms have become stricter as required by the memorandum of understanding between brand owners and e-commerce platforms like Lazada and Shopee,” said Ann Edillon, officer in charge of the IPOPHL’s IP Rights Enforcement Office (IEO), referring to the agreement signed in 2021 aimed at pushing for stronger notice-and-takedown procedures among e-commerce platforms.

“We also recognize that brand owners have been more knowledgeable of their rights and how they can utilize the complaints mechanisms of platforms,” she added.

Counterfeiting accounted for 95 percent of the total reports and complaints received by IPOPHL’s IEO.

Apparel, which includes shoes, clothes, bags and eyewear, remains the most targeted by counterfeiters and are included in 65.9 percent of the reports and complaints.

Perfume and beauty products are the second-most counterfeited products at 9.1 percent, gadgets at 6.8 percent, home items at 6.8 percent; and other items, such as keychains and umbrellas at 4.5 percent

On the other hand, shows and movies were the most pirated works and accounted for 44.4 percent of the complaints and reports.

This is followed by artworks and paintings at 22.2 percent, general e-books at 22.2 percent and software at 11.1 percent.

Internet users were also the primary reporters of these crimes, accounting for 64.2 percent, with brand and IP rights owners filing 18.9 percent of the reports.

“Despite this decline, we cannot deny that the IP rights enforcement is also now a battle fought online. We further encourage the netizens and IP rights holders to continue being vigilant and maximize the IP protection features on sites where they observe any counterfeiting and piracy activities,” Edillon said, adding that their office welcomes formal complaints if online platforms cannot provide the reporting mechanism. INQ