On May 13 2010, Attorney Ricardo R Blancaflor, newly appointed director general of the Intellectual Property Office (IPPhil), issued Office Order Number 84 entitled Policies and Guidelines on Counterfeit and Pirated Products. This Office Order mandates that all officials and employees of the IPPhil should respect IP rights and that they should not patronise counterfeit and pirated products. It also applies to visitors of the IPPhil, who shall be subject to inspection by the security guards. To implement the Office Order, the security guards at the entrances and exits of the IPPhil building are instructed to do the following:
- Courteously remind all officials and employees of the IPPhil, as well as visitors, that bringing in counterfeit and pirated products inside the IPPhil is not allowed;
- Ensure that all officials and employees of the IPPhil as well as its visitors and their belongings shall be subject to inspection before entry to the IPPhil. Any counterfeit or pirated products found during the inspection shall be confiscated. Visitors who refuse to relinquish the counterfeit and pirated products shall not be allowed entry. Officials and employees of the IPPhil found violating the Office Order shall be subject to disciplinary action.
- Ensure that no vendors or peddlers of counterfeit and pirated products shall be allowed within the premises of the IPPhil.
The Financial Management and Administrative Services Bureau (FMAS) of the IPPhil has been tasked to ensure that there are no counterfeit and pirated products within the premises of the IPPhil and must conduct an office-wide inspection on a monthly basis or even more frequently. Counterfeit or pirated products found during the inspection shall be confiscated. The FMAS shall also ensure that notices prohibiting counterfeit and pirated goods inside the IPPhil are posted in conspicuous places. Any confiscation must be reported by the FMAS to the director general within 24 hours. Records, confiscated products and other documents relative to the confiscation shall be treated as confidential and shall be kept and preserved by the FMAS until the cases are disposed of in accordance with law.
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| Editha R Hechanova |
Hechanova Bugay & Vilchez
GF Chemphil Building Antonio Arnaiz Ave
Makati City 1223
Philippines
Tel: +63 2 888 4293
Fax: +63 2 888 4290
editharh@info.com.ph