IP body reports decline in counterfeit items seized

The total worth of seized counterfeit products by government anti-piracy agencies for the first nine months of the year fell 18 percent to P4.12 billion from P5 billion a year ago, the country’s intellectual property agency said Thursday. "Low morale" was one of the reasons cited by the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) for the decline, after the country was retained in the recent 2012 Special 301 Report by the United States Trade Representative. The report identifies countries that deny adequate and effective protection of intellectual property rights. The Philippines was retained despite significant advances by the country in curbing piracy and protecting intellectual property rights, said the IPOPHL. IPOPHL deputy director general Allan Gepty, speaking at a press briefing in Taguig, also said recent changes in leadership and reforms in the organizational structure of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) also affected the overall performance for the period. Of the P4.12 billion worth of seized products, the NBI accounted for an estimated P1.9 billion. The Bureau of Customs, meanwhile, collected P1.1 billion; the Optical Media Board, P975.9 million; and the Philippine National Police, P181.4 million. Earlier this year, multi-agency group National Committee on Intellectual Property Rights reported that the total value of seized counterfeit and pirated goods for 2011 hit P8.4 billion, a 58.83-percent increase from the 2010 record of P5.3 billion. Gepty said the majority of the counterfeit items are optical media, making up 54 percent of the total. Handbags, wallets and backpacks accounted for 38 percent, while computer hardware and software took up 4 percent. Rounding out the list with one percent or less were pharmaceutical, clothing, footwear, and health and personal care products; consumer electronics, such as computer, MP3 and DVD players; and “other commodities.” Gepty said despite the country's remaining on the list, the IPOPHL continues its work in promoting and strengthening respect for intellectual property rights in the country. "One of our efforts is increasing our awareness campaign, to build the people's mindset to respect IP rights," he said. Gepty said the agency will conduct the second Philippine Anti-Counterfeiting and Piracy Summit next week to increase the level of public awareness of, and appreciation for, intellectual property rights. — Gian C. Geronimo/BM, GMA News