The sprawling Greenhills Shopping Center in Manila has remained in the list of Notorious Markets for Counterfeiting and Piracy of the United States Trade Representative (USTR).
In the 2024 Review of Notorious Markets for Counterfeiting and Piracy report, released this week, the USTR identifies 38 online markets and 33 physical markets that are reported to engage in or facilitate substantial trademark counterfeiting or copyright piracy in 2024. Greenhills Shopping Center, located in San Juan, Metro Manila, is the lone physical market in the Philippines identified in the Notorious Markets List.
The USTR noted of the continued popularity of the large shopping mall, describing it as a huge mall with many storefronts selling electronics, perfumes, watches, shoes, accessories, and fashion items.
Despite its continued listing, the USTR cited efforts by law enforcement authorities, in collaboration with right holders, in conducting raids at the mall. It further noted of efforts by the management at Greenhills Shopping Center in applying a three-strikes rule to take action against counterfeit sellers.
- In addition, the USTR mentioned efforts through the National Committee on Intellectual Property Rights (NCIPR) in working with right holders and shopping center management on implementing a transition program to transform Greenhills Shopping Center into a high-end mall with legitimate sellers.
This program includes efforts at rezoning the mall and shifting sellers to local products through incentives and premium locations in the mall.
Right holders have welcomed the opportunity to collaborate with government authorities and Greenhills Shopping Center management to remove counterfeit sellers.
However, the report said that “Greenhills Shopping Center remains popular on social media as a destination for purchasing counterfeit goods, and right holders report high volumes of counterfeit goods in secret storerooms. Right holders continue to wait and see if the transition program will result in addressing the volume of counterfeit goods.”
In terms of notorious online markets, the report identified Shopee among others, for its persistent counterfeit issues across Southeast Asia and Latin America. However, the USTR acknowledged the platform’s new actions to curb counterfeits.
Meantime, the USTR highlighted the NCIPR where the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) serves as vice-chair, for its record-breaking seizure of counterfeit goods.
IPOPHL Officer-in-Charge Nathaniel S. Arevalo said Shopee, as a signatory of the E-Commerce Memorandum of Understanding which IPOPHL facilitates, has been “cooperative” in addressing infringement concerns of brands that are signatories to the MOU.
From January to September 2024, the NCIPR recorded $617.8 million-worth of counterfeit goods seized from ports of entry, physical markets and warehouses, surpassing the $471.4 million value in 2023. The record was enlisted as a positive country development in the fight against counterfeiting for its indication of enhanced enforcement and coordination with stakeholders.
“This development reflects IPOPHL’s dedication to curb counterfeiting and our increased collaboration with rights holders to ensure action,” said Arevalo.
While commending these positive steps, Arevalo assured that “enhancing enforcement against counterfeiting and piracy trends will remain in full swing” at the NCIPR.
“We will continue to study and monitor trends used in violating intellectual property rights, with the end in view of furthering economic development through innovation and creativity,” he said.
