Quiapo finally off US list of 'notorious markets' for piracy, counterfeiting

 

US Trade Representative Ron Kirk said the Philippine government's "significant enforcement actions" brought down the number of pirated and fake goods sold there.

 

"(The) Philippine Government has taken significant enforcement actions at the Quiapo Shopping District, which has reduced the number of counterfeit and pirated goods available for sale in this marketplace," he said in his Special 301 Out-of-Cycle Review of Notorious Markets. The USTR has identified notorious markets in the Special 301 Report since 2006.

 

“I applaud the actions that some markets have taken to begin ridding their virtual and physical marketplaces of pirated and counterfeit goods, as well as enforcement actions taken by certain governments that have resulted in the shutdown of several other markets," Kirk said. "It is through both voluntary and government actions that we will continue to improve the landscape for IPR owners and companies and their workers here at home that rely on IPR protection,” he added.

 

A report on BusinessWorld said the Philippines had been part of the list for the past six years.

 

The report addedthat  Quiapo’s inclusion in last year’s report included the statement that "street stalls in this neighborhood are notorious for selling counterfeit and pirated merchandise," and that other notorious markets in Manila include Binondo, Greenhills, Makati Cinema Square and Metrowalk." Notorious markets

 

In the report, Kirk also cited Chinese site Taobao, which he said worked with rights holders to significantly decrease the listing of infringing products for sale through its website.

 

Kirk said Taobao has committed to continue working to streamline its complaint procedures to further reduce listings of counterfeit products.  

 

"We encourage other Chinese online marketplaces to take similar actions to ensure the timely removal of listings for sales of pirated and counterfeit goods on their sites," he said.

 

Also, he said the Mexican government shut down the operations of the previously-listed BitTorrent Tracker Demonoid.

 

Modchip.ca and Consolesource, which were listed for involvement in the marketing of circumvention devices, have also reportedly been shut down before Canada implements its recently enacted Copyright Modernization Act.

 

Some still in operation

 

Kirk said despite the progress in the past year, several markets continue to operate despite legal rulings or enforcement actions against them.

 

He cited the vKontakte website, whose social media music service had been found by courts in Russia to be infringing.

 

In Ukraine, the website Ex.ua offers unauthorized downloading and streaming of various content, and was shut down on January 31 but was back online by February 2.

 

He said servers and evidence seized in the raid of Ex.ua’s offices were reportedly returned and the criminal case was reportedly closed in June.

 

"We urge the governments of Russia and Ukraine to follow through on ensuring that notorious markets are not allowed to continue infringing operations," he said.

 

Last January, Kirk said the U.S. Department of Justice filed criminal copyright charges against defendants associated with cyberlocker site MegaUpload, which it said promoted the unauthorized distribution of protected content.

 

"As a result of these actions, several cyberlockers in the past year have changed their business models in ways that reduce or eliminate piracy; others, such as btjunkie, also included in last year’s list, have shut down their operations completely," he said.

 

Review list

 

The review cites some 30 Internet and physical markets that deal in infringing goods and services, facilitating and sustaining global piracy and counterfeiting.

 

“Piracy and counterfeiting, including online sales of pirated and counterfeit goods, is a problem that hurts the U.S. economy, harms some of this nation’s most creative and innovative entrepreneurs and companies and threatens jobs for significant numbers of middle-class American workers," Kirk said. "We highlight the notorious markets that have a negative impact on legitimate businesses and industries of all sizes that rely on intellectual property to protect their goods and services,” he added. - VVP, GMA News