Social networking site Facebook, and e-Commerce platforms Lazada and Shopee were pinpointed as conduits for the proliferation of counterfeit and pirated products, based on the latest report of the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines.
IPOPHL’s report said the online sites remain as the leading source of intellectual property violations, accounting for 75 percent of reports and complaints.
Year-to-date, Facebook still tops the list, making up 65.8 percent of the overall filings, followed by other websites (13.2 percent); Shopee (9.2 percent); Instagram (6.6 percent); and Lazada (5.3 percent).
“Despite the decline, we cannot deny that the IP rights enforcement is also now a battle fought online. We further encourage the netizens and IP rights holders to continue being vigilant and maximize the IP protection features on sites where they observe any counterfeiting and piracy activities. If the online features cannot address the IP rights concerns, IEO welcomes formal complaints that can be filed at IPOPHL for assessment,” IPOPHL’s IP Rights Enforcement Office officer-in-charge Ann Edillon said.
Reports declining
IPOPHL, nonetheless, said reports of counterfeiting and piracy have declined almost 50 percent this year which it attributed to the awareness campaigns and capacity sessions to build respect for intellectual property initiated by the IPOPHL in the past years.
IPOPHL said it received a total of 56 reports and complaints on counterfeiting and piracy from January to June 2022, a significant drop of 48 percent from the 107 recorded reports and complaints in the comparable period of 2021.
Counterfeiting accounted for 53 incidents or 95 percent of the total reports and complaints received.
Apparel (shoes, clothes, bags, and eyewear) remains as the top target of fraud with a 65.9 percent share in reports and complaints, followed by perfume and beauty products (9.1 percent); gadgets (6.8 percent); home items (6.8 percent); and other items such as keychains and umbrellas (4.5 percent).