ILOILO CITY (PIA) – Enforcement of Intellectual Property (IP) on official local patent, trademarks, and others that are included in the IP registry, and awareness on some basic consumer rights were promoted by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) 6.
This was channeled during the DTI Iloilo Meets the Media 2022 held here, recently.
Marriane Tajanlangit-Bebit of the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) 6 presented updates on the enforcement of IP office in the region, reports, and services it entails.
“If there are violations on trademarks, there are those who are already reporting to us. If you have a certificate of trademark registration issued by our office, it can be reported whenever you see some replications,” said Bebit.
She also noted that online shops which are prone to defilement of IP can also be readily reported since Facebook itself has IP help centers, as well as some online shops. She assured that if there are violations like selling of counterfeit products, the IPOPHL can be reached directly.
“Right now, with the enforcement of the IP office, the general public could directly report the violations by just sending photos and their proof of purchase. By then, we can call the attention of the rightful owner and be given appropriate action,” she added.
The IPOPHL serves as co-chair and member of the National Committee on Intellectual Property Rights (NCIPR) which is an inter-agency body that formulates and implements plans and policies, as well as strengthens the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights in the country. The committee was chaired by the DTI, joined by other 13 line agencies of the government.
Meanwhile, just in time with the culmination of Consumer Welfare Month 2022 celebration, some concerns on consumer rights were raised during the press conference, particularly on the aspect of sales promotion.
“One of the fair trade laws is the sales promotion. In the conduct of so, we are regulating and requiring them to apply for sales promo permits. We refer them to the mechanics in submitting requirements covered in their sales promo including the indication of items, unit price, original price, percentage of discount, and price itself. It cannot be conducted unless they have permits,” DTI 6 OIC unit head Ma. Dorita Chavez stressed.
Chavez also emphasized that double-tagging on sales promotion is a violation.
"As we are governed by the Consumer Act of the Philippines or R.A. No. 7394, consumers have an advanced protection against deceptive, unfair, and unconscionable sales acts and practices. The law also promotes the provision of information and education to facilitate sound choice and the proper exercise of rights by the consumers,"she said. (JBG/April Grace Padilla/PIA6)
