IPOPHL vows to get Phl out of USTR watchlist

 Economy
Feb 152014
 

MANILA, Philippines – As the Philippines continues to be kept out of the Office of the United States Trade Representative’s (USTR) Notorious Markets List, the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) intends to strengthen efforts to be taken off the watchlist of countries with intellectual property rights (IPR) violations.

According to IPOPHL director General Ricardo Blancaflor, being out of the latest Out of Cycle Review of Notorious Markets for a second year is a positive development.

The USTR first took off the Quiapo shopping district from its Notorious Markets List in its report released in December 2012.

The Quiapo shopping district was among the markets which took action to address widespread availability of pirated or counterfeit goods.

“These are welcome developments but we are still working on additional submissions to strengthen our national position with regards to the 301 watchlist,” Blancaflor said.

Given the recent development and favorable feedback of American companies and associations on the government’s efforts to protect IPR, the IPOPHL hopes the country would be taken off the watchlist.

Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1

“Some American companies and associations gave positive comments on Philippine efforts to address IP protection and we acknowledged these.

We addressed constructively some of the concerns,” he said.

In the USTR’s 2013 Special 301 Report, the Philippines was retained in the watchlist of countries with IP violations, subject to further review of progress in key areas.

Countries placed on the watchlist are those which need to address underlying IPR problems.

The USTR said in the report it wants the Philippines to take important steps to address piracy over the Internet.

It also said that while the Philippine government has already moved to modernize its copyright and IPR enforcement regimes with the amendment of the IP Code, it needs to see the implementing regulations that would further strengthen and clarify the law.

Republic Act 10372 or the Amendments to the IP Code was signed by President Aquino in February last year.

The USTR is scheduled to release the Special 301 report in April.

IPOPHL creates Bureau of Copyright

 Economy
Oct 222013
 
IPOPHL creates Bureau of Copyright

MANILA, Philippines – The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) is setting up a new agency which would be responsible for the accreditation of organizations which would collect royalties for copyrighted works used for commercial purposes in line with the amended IP Code. IPOPHL director general Ricardo Blancaflor told reporters during the 3rd Philippine Anti-Counterfeiting and Piracy Summit yesterday that under the amended IP Code signed by President Aquino earlier this year, the IPOPHL could create a new agency, the Bureau of Copyright. “It (amended IP Code) gives us the right to create the Bureau of Copyright. We are just waiting for the go-signal of DBM (Department of Budget and Management),” he said. The new bureau, which the IPOPHL expects to be in place by early next year, would be responsible for promoting awareness of IP rights and the accreditation of collective management organizations (CMO) or those which would collect royalties of copyrighted works being used in public places. He noted that while the Filipino Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (FILSCAP) already collects fees for the usage of works of composers, authors and publishers, many establishments would want to pay royalties to CMOs which are accredited by the government. “What mall owners want is for government to regulate them (CMOs),” he said. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Performer’s Rights Society of the Philippines corporate secretary John Lesaca explained that while the FILSCAP has been collecting royalties for copyrighted works, collections have been small as Read More …

PLDT unit extends services to government IP program

 Economy
Oct 192013
 
PLDT unit extends services to government IP program

MANILA, Philippines – IP Converge Data Services Inc. (IPC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of e-PLDT is working closely with government agencies to help serve the general public more efficiently. IPC president Reynaldo Huergas said the company has been tapped by the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) to put in place within its organization a system by which its employees can communicate and collaborate more efficiently among themselves and with their stakeholders. Huergas said IPC has deployed Google Apps for Business, providing IPOPHL with a suite of web-based, user-friendly applications by which the government organization could collaborate internally and with its partners, businesses and the general public in a more responsive and efficient manner. Aside from deployment of Google Apps, IPC also provided change management activities to IPOPHL. “In terms of public service, IPOPHL will derive great benefits from the cloud service and Google Apps as these will definitely reduce IPOPHL’s capital expense for information and communications technology requirements and increase productivity through real-time collaboration,” he stressed. He explained that IPOPHL’s MIS personnel could now focus more on the mission-critical systems and services offered to stakeholders and the public as IPC would handle the maintenance of the computing facility. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Ricardo Blancaflor, director general of IPOPHL, said the agency would become a more efficient intellectual property organization as it would benefit from the Google Apps for Business provided by IPC.  “Communication within and outside of the IPOPHL circle will be more efficient, Read More …

Gov't warns companies in Visayas to use legit software

 Economy
Jun 062013
 
Gov't warns companies in Visayas to use legit software

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Anti-Piracy Team (PAPT) issued a warning to businesses in the Visayas region to use genuine software as it sets another round of inspections. Ricardo Blancaflor, Director General of the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL), said continuing the use of pirated and unlicensed software can lead to heavier charges and be detrimental to business operations. “We encourage businesses to use genuine software for a stable and safe business environment. Especially those businesses in the Visayas region who are not using licensed software, we recommend that they standardize on genuine as soon as possible because we might visit them next,” Blancaflor said. PAPT recently visited several business centers in the South Metro region to conduct inspections and determine if the companies were utilizing genuine software. Establishments in Batangas and Laguna were inspected including Automated Technology Philippines, Diversion Industries Inc., Fastech Synergy, Glades International Corp., Miyasaki Polymer (Philippines), Nikkoshi Philippines, Paete Manufacturing Cooperative, Renewable Products Group, and Tann Philippines. IPOPHL led the inspections together with the Optical Media Board (OMB), both members of the PAPT. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 “To lower the piracy and counterfeiting rate in our country, we at IPOPHL have taken to the lead in conducting regular visits in the Metro South region to emphasize the importance of Intellectual property in all industries,” Blancaflor said. “Use of stolen or misappropriated information for business operations is a crime and through these visits, we are further creating awareness on how Read More …