The 15-member National Committee on Intellectual Property Rights (NCIPR), led by the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL), seized on Monday P63 million worth of possible counterfeit goods in Greenhills Shopping Center in San Juan City.
The operation, spearheaded by NCIPR member National Bureau of Investigation, led to the haul of 755 pieces of fake Louis Vuitton products.
The activity is part of the NCIPR’s commitment to remove Greenhills from the United States Trade Representative’s (USTR) list of Notorious Markets for Counterfeiting and Piracy. The shopping center is the lone market in the country that was included in the list.
“Unless drastically changed, Greenhill’s reputation as a go-to for fake goods will damage our country’s reputation, eventually affecting our economic interests in the US and other trading partners that highly value intellectual property (IP) protection,” said IPOPHL deputy director general Teodoro C. Pascua.
Following the raid operation, the NCIPR also met with officials of Greenhills’ management group to discuss and explore collaborative steps to wipe out counterfeit selling activities in its halls.
Greenhills’ external affairs head and legal manager Isagani I. Elacio assured that the group will coordinate with the NCIPR for further action plans.
Aware of the company’s perception among enforcement groups and its negative standing in USTR reviews, Elacio has offered to provide an in-site office for NCIPR member staff to help educate Greenhills tenants and enforce IP rights protection.
Also present at the meeting was a representative from the US Embassy to help clarify the USTR report and provide full support to NCIPR efforts.
The NCIPR, along with Greenhills’ management, is expected to hold more action plan meetings to respond to the growing counterfeit sales, Pascua said at a press conference IPOPHL held last April 4.
One of the 35 physical markets the USTR identified as notorious for counterfeits in 2021, Greenhills has long been on the list for selling fake electronics, perfumes, watches, shoes, accessories, and fashion items.
The NCIPR has heightened its watch on Greenhills, especially with the latest USTR report finding that counterfeit sellers in the mall are becoming more open with their illicit trade.
To address the counterfeiting activities in Greenhills, IPOPHL has established a Technical Working Group (TWG) within the NCIPR. The TWG will soon be meeting with the local government of San Juan to explore collaborative work in stamping out counterfeiting city-wide.