PHL out of USTR watchlist for 11th year

The Philippines has maintained its favorable position outside the United States Trade Representative’s (USTR) Special 301 Watchlist for the eleventh consecutive year, earning praise for its intellectual property (IP) protection and enforcement initiatives.

These efforts by the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) and the National Committee on Intellectual Property Rights (NCIPR) have been recognized as exemplary “best practices” that other nations could emulate.

In a press release, IPOPHL Director General Rowel S. Barba highlighted the country’s unwavering commitment to IP enforcement, which has secured its esteemed status in the global IP community.

“We are intent on further enhancing our enforcement mechanisms to back the growth of IP rights holders and heighten public awareness about the perils of counterfeiting and piracy,” he said.

The USTR’s 2024 Special 301 Report singled out the Philippines’ new E-Commerce Bureau under the Department of Trade and Industry, which aims to safeguard online consumers and businesses from fraudulent activities, including counterfeit online sales.

Additionally, IPOPHL’s public awareness campaigns, such as the “IP and Citizen Journalism for Schools” initiative, the introductory issue of the “Pirated Inferno” comic, and its joint anti-piracy efforts, were commended by the USTR.

The USTR also recognized the Philippines for encouraging active government involvement in technical assistance and capacity building, specifically mentioning the National Judicial Colloquium on IP Adjudication. This program included judges from Australia and Singapore sharing adjudication expertise.

Beyond the initiatives acknowledged by the USTR, Barba underlined the effectiveness of the newly instituted site-blocking regulations and ongoing collaborations with local governments to encourage the adoption of an Anti-Counterfeiting and Anti-Piracy (ACAP) Policy.

With the continued success of IPOPHL’s “Say ‘No’ to Piracy” campaign, notably featuring actor Matteo Guidicelli as an ambassador, the IP enforcement in the Philippines is gaining significant traction.

Despite these achievements, IPOPHL acknowledges the need for ongoing improvement, especially in areas pinpointed by the USTR, such as the expedition of opposition and cancellation proceedings and addressing concerns related to counterfeit medicines and geographical indication issues.

Barba cited IPOPHL’s progress in expediting legal processes, with the Bureau of Legal Affairs significantly reducing case processing times, thanks to the electronic filing system and digital case management introduced in 2021.

Confronting the USTR’s concerns with confidence, Barba affirmed, “We will persist in our collaborative efforts with the NCIPR and all stakeholders to uphold the trust of investors and consumers and to sustain our nation’s esteemed standing in the international IP enforcement sphere.”