US retains PHL on piracy watch list

The Philippines has remained on the United States piracy watch list due mainly to its failure to sufficiently address piracy over the internet, particularly “notorious” online markets. “The Philippines remains on the Watch List in 2013, subject to further review if the Philippines continues to make progress in key areas,” the US Trade Representative (USTR) said in its Special 301 report. The report details the monitoring of the agency on the enforcement and protection of intellectual property rights of various countries. It also lists countries on three categories: the priority foreign country list, the priority watch list, and the ordinary watch list. The Philippines is listed on the ordinary watch list — where it has been listed since 2007 — with 29 other countries. Internet piracy The Special 301 report said the Philippines has “additional challenges remain with respect to addressing piracy over the Internet, in particular notorious online markets, and the need to strengthen intellectual property rights enforcement efforts.” The USTR, however, lauded the Philippines for its efforts to curb piracy, particularly the passage last February of the amendments to the Intellectual Property (IP) Code or Republic Act 10372, which includes the implementation of World Intellectual Property Office Internet Treaties and provide guidelines to search for pirated goods as well as the strides made to lower unauthorized video recording of movies. “The United States recognizes the efforts and achievements of high level intellectual property rights officials and legislators in strengthening the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights in the Philippines,” the USTR said in the report. The Philippines' accession to the Madrid Protocol was also lauded. PHL regretful The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) was disappointed with the retention on the list. “IPOPHL regrets that the USTR has retained the Philippines in the ordinary watch list because just like in the past, vigorous efforts have been made to address enforcement of intellectual property rights by the law enforcement agencies in the country. Even the 2013 Report recognizes the efforts of the Philippine government so we cannot understand why we have been retained in the ordinary watch list,” said IPOPHL director general Ricardo Blancaflor in a statement Thursday. “I only hope that the law enforcement agencies involved in intellectual property work will not be discouraged by the retention and will work harder in fighting piracy and counterfeiting,” he added. The IPOPHL noted that requirements of the USTR “change and vary” and it seems that the USTR “has no intention of removing Philippines from the watch list.”  — KBK, GMA News