Workshop for prosecutors and enforcement officials highlights online IP infringement

ARISE+ IPR held the ‘Regional Workshop on Online Infringements for IPR Enforcement Officials, Prosecutors and ANIEE’ in Manila on 23-24 April. Opened by EU Delegation Ambassador to the Philippines Franz Jessen and Deputy Director General of the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) Atty. Teodoro C. Pascua, the activity was organised to improve institutional and human resources capacity on IPR enforcement in ASEAN member nations, including operations, evidence gathering, and prosecution, as well as to provide participants with knowledge of best practices from a range of key experts. 

In his opening remarks, Ambassador Jessen noted that total trade between the EU and ASEAN rose 9% in 2016, adding that, “this trade and investment is built on a business environment that includes strong IPR protection and enforcement.” Specific to the Philippines, the Ambassador stated “The vibrant trade and investment relationship between the EU and the Philippines is anchored on a business environment that includes strong intellectual property protection and enforcement. This area of intellectual property infringement is one where we need to cooperate as closely as possible, especially in a digital environment.”

Highlighting the scale of the issue, Mr. Pascua added, “Addressing online infringements is a big challenge to us, especially to law enforcement officials, because of the complexities, unpredictability and highly advanced technologies employed in the sale of counterfeit goods and products via the internet. The use of equally sophisticated technologies and methods to detect, countervail, intercept, prevent and stop online infringements are necessary.”

Detailed presentations from representatives of the EU Observatory, EUIPO, IPOPHL and UKIPO covered the key contemporary issues for online IP infringement, including current business models enabling infringement, measures to curb counterfeiting and piracy in online transactions, best practices to prevent IPR infringement, EU law enforcement cooperation activities, and enforcement and awareness raising actions, among others. 

The ASEAN Network of IPR Enforcement Experts (ANIEE) consists of representatives from various SE Asia and international IP offices and is tasked by the ASEAN Working Group on Intellectual Property Cooperation (AWGIPC) to undertake the implementation of the IPR enforcement initiatives under the ASEAN IPR Action Plan 2016-2025.

Further coverage of proceedings by IPOPHL is available here.