American private sector business leaders, members of the diplomatic community, and officials from the U.S. and Philippine governments met at a U.S. Embassy-sponsored program on May 11 for a broad discussion of intellectual property rights (IPR).
The U.S. Embassy held its third “Roundtable on Intellectual Property Rights” (IPR) to promote positive initiatives to improve IPR protection in the Philippines. Following the February 2006 removal of the Philippines from the U.S. Government’s Special 301 Priority Watch List for protection of intellectual property rights, this Roundtable brought sought to identify specific strategies and priorities to further strengthen IPR enforcement in the Philippines.
In her remarks, U.S. Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney underscored the common economic interests of the U.S. and the Philippines in achieving stronger IPR protection. She congratulated the Philippine Government for recent improvements in IPR protection that led to its removal from the Priority Watch List but noted that there is still work to be done. Ambassador Kenney encouraged the private sector to continue working with both the U.S. and Philippine governments, and noted that strong IPR enforcement is critical to encouraging investment, entrepreneurship, and economic growth.
The U.S. Government is proud to continue its partnership with both the private sector and the Philippine Government in improving IPR, which includes training and funding for specific programs.
The U.S. Embassy held its third “Roundtable on Intellectual Property Rights” (IPR) to promote positive initiatives to improve IPR protection in the Philippines. Following the February 2006 removal of the Philippines from the U.S. Government’s Special 301 Priority Watch List for protection of intellectual property rights, this Roundtable brought sought to identify specific strategies and priorities to further strengthen IPR enforcement in the Philippines.
In her remarks, U.S. Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney underscored the common economic interests of the U.S. and the Philippines in achieving stronger IPR protection. She congratulated the Philippine Government for recent improvements in IPR protection that led to its removal from the Priority Watch List but noted that there is still work to be done. Ambassador Kenney encouraged the private sector to continue working with both the U.S. and Philippine governments, and noted that strong IPR enforcement is critical to encouraging investment, entrepreneurship, and economic growth.
The U.S. Government is proud to continue its partnership with both the private sector and the Philippine Government in improving IPR, which includes training and funding for specific programs.
Director General Adrian Cristobal of the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) emphasized that the Philippine Government is committed to a strong intellectual property system, and outlined its strategy for sustaining recent gains in IPR protection and strengthening the intellectual property system.
He cited a number of recent policy initiatives that further clarify responsibilities and strengthen government agencies responsible for IPR enforcement.
U.S. private sector participants acknowledged that the Philippines has a strong system of IP laws but emphasized the need for greater progress in arrests and prosecutions of IPR violators in order to create a credible deterrent to IPR theft. According to the participants, judicial delay, minimal sentences for IPR violators, and a weak regulatory environment continue to pose major challenges to enforcement of IPR.
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