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The Philippines on Thursday pledged to create a special court and
law enforcement agency to combat rampant intellectual piracy and
counterfeiting, the Trade department said.
Manila is on the US Trade Representative’s
watch list of countries because of book piracy, Internet piracy, and
the illegal video-camera recording of films in theaters.
Washington also wants Manila to strengthen one
of its regulatory agencies, the Optical Media Board.
Special courts to handle intellectual property
cases would be created in Manila and possibly Cebu, the country’s
second city, Trade Secretary Peter Favila said in a statement. He
gave no timetable.
“This is something that the different business
chambers and IP [intellectual property] owners have been proposing,
and we know the Supreme Court appreciates the importance of IP in
our socio-economic development,” Favila said.
A research and training institute would be set
up, he added, while the Customs bureau, police, Optical Media Board
and the Justice and Local Government departments would be required
to form permanent units to enforce the Intellectual Property Code.
“An executive order is being prepared for this
purpose, to be signed by President Gloria Arroyo, Favila said.”
“A strong intellectual property system
promotes innovation and competitiveness, attracts foreign
investments and generates employment,” he added.
-- AFP
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