IPOPHL: Software, movies, artwork top list of concerns for piracy

According to the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines' (IPOPHL's) 2022 Counterfeiting and Piracy Reports released on Monday, software topped the list of concerns for piracy making up 33.3%.

IPOPHL Deputy Director General Teodoro Pascua added, "Shows and movies follow with 28.6%; artworks and paintings (19%); general eBooks (14.3%); educational books and eBooks (4.8%).”

The online space remained to be the leading source of intellectual property violations with a social media and social networking service on the top of the list with 60.6% of the online reports and complaints.

According to IPOPHL, it received a total of 92 reports and complaints on counterfeiting and piracy from January to November, which is 40% lower compared to the 153 recorded in 2021.

Of the 92 total reports, 70 are for counterfeiting and 22 for piracy.

IPOPHL said apparel such as shoes, clothes, bags, and eyewear remained to be the most counterfeited goods in the market at 61.9%.

It was followed by perfume and beauty products (7.9%); gadgets (7.9%); food (4.8%); home items (4.8%); automotive materials (3.2%); cigarettes (3.2%); and pharmaceuticals/medical products (1.6%).

IPOPHL Deputy Director General Nelson Laluces said their office was working on campaigns to raise awareness as around 56% of people who participated in their survey were not familiar with intellectual property.

For Laluces, the Intellectual Property Code should be amended with higher penalties for those selling counterfeit and pirated products, especially for products that risk health and life.

Anti-Counterfeit and Anti-Piracy policies should also be institutionalized in government agencies, schools, and establishments, he added. — DVM, GMA Integrated News