PPA, IPOPHL INK ACCORD ON PROPERTY RIGHTS

The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) General Manager Juan C. Sta. Ana (2nd from left)  and the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) Deputy Director General Allan B. Gepty signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to ensure the Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) in all the seaports administered by PPA. IPOPHL is the lead agency in the country mandated to implement state policies on IPR. The MOA implementation intends to utilize the police authority of the PPA in regulating the entry to, and exit from, and the movement within the port, of persons and vehicles as well as movement of watercraft to prevent the shipment Of counterfeit and pirated goods from all the sea ports. With them are PPA AGM for Operations Raul T. Santos (extreme left) and Leny B. Raz of the Bureau of Trade Mark, IPO.

The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) General Manager Juan C. Sta. Ana and the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) Director General Ricardo R. Blancaflor signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to ensure enforcement of intellectual property rights (IPR) in all the sea ports administered by the PPA. IPOPHL is the lead agency in the country mandated to implement state policies on intellectual property (IP).

The MOA implementation intends to utilize the police authority of the PPA in regulating the entry to, and exit from, and movement within the port, of persons and vehicles, as well as movement within the port of watercraft to prevent the shipment of counterfeit and pirated goods from all the sea ports it administered.

Under the agreement, the PPA shall issue notices and directives to all PPA port police to strictly monitor the possible entry to and exit of any possible counterfeited or pirated goods, post notices and warnings in conspicuous places that counterfeiting or infringement of IPR is prohibited and assist IPOPHL and other law enforcement agencies in the surveillance, investigation and apprehension of persons involved in the counterfeiting or infringement activities. The PPA will also collaborate with IPOPHL in designing a strategic monitoring system that will detect the shipment of counterfeited and pirated goods through the ports without prejudicing the smooth flow of water borne commerce.

The IPOPHL, meanwhile shall provide the necessary technical assistance and capacity building seminars, in coordination with rights holders, to PPA personnel on basic IP and product orientation necessary in identifying counterfeit and pirated goods. It will also coordinate with other government agencies in the implementation of the IPR and if necessary, assign personnel to work with PPA, in the conduct of border inspection to prevent shipment or distribution of the said illegal products as well as the assistance in the prosecution of the violators.