The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL), with support from the Japanese government and the private sector, is strengthening efforts to combat counterfeit Japanese products in the country.
IPOPHL said in a forum the initiative aims to improve market surveillance and enforcement as Japanese companies expand their presence in the Philippines.
The forum was co-hosted by the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), the Japan Patent Office (JPO) and the International Intellectual Property Protection Forum (IIPPF).
Japanese companies at the event emphasized the Philippines’ growing importance as a trade and investment hub, underscoring the need for stronger enforcement to protect brand reputation and consumer trust.
Newly-appointed IPOPHL director-general Brigitte da Costa-Villaluz earlier met with executives from Asian Honda Motor Co. Ltd., Kubota Corp., KYB Corp., Mazda Motor Corp. and Seiko Epson Corp., alongside JETRO and the JPO, to assure them of IPOPHL’s ongoing efforts to speed up enforcement and resolution processes.
“IPOPHL recognizes the challenges posed by lengthy judicial proceedings after criminal crackdowns. To address these, we offer alternative enforcement methods that lead to faster resolutions,” da Costa-Villaluz said.
She highlighted the agency’s collaboration with e-commerce platforms and alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, including Mediation Outside Litigation and the Rules of Procedure on Resolution of Actions without Provisional Remedies (RAPID Rules).
Japan remains the Philippines’ second-largest trading partner, with total merchandise trade reaching $20.74 billion in 2023.
