Philippine IP Office’s E-Commerce Pact Accelerates Removal of Counterfeit Online Listings

The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) has highlighted the positive impact of its E-Commerce Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) against online counterfeiting, now in its fifth year. The MOU has facilitated faster takedown of counterfeit goods listings and strengthened collaboration among online marketplaces, rights holders, and industry groups.

During the sixth review and assessment meeting held last week, stakeholders reported enhanced enforcement outcomes, including quicker resolution of complaints and more efficient communication channels among the signatories. These improvements have contributed to a more effective response to the proliferation of counterfeit products on e-commerce platforms.

A notable development came from a signatory that joined the initiative in mid-2024, which disclosed that the number of counterfeit listings removed in 2025 more than tripled compared to the previous year. This surge in enforcement activity was linked to tangible revenue recovery for legitimate rights holders.

Other participants in the MOU noted that counterfeit listings were typically removed within 24 hours to three days under the agreement, underscoring the expedited nature of the takedown process.

The initiative, facilitated by IPOPHL, has also garnered attention from other Southeast Asian countries as a possible model for regional cooperation against online counterfeiting. Representatives from Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Singapore, and Timor Leste attended the recent meeting to explore approaches to strengthen cross-border enforcement within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

"Our initiative has been continuously cited as a best practice that ASEAN members could replicate to fight counterfeit goods online," said IPOPHL Deputy Director General Nathaniel S. Arevalo.

A representative from one signatory remarked that the challenges faced in the Philippines mirror those encountered in other ASEAN markets, suggesting that the MOU could serve as a practical reference and learning model for the region.

The Philippines currently chairs the ASEAN Network of IP Rights Enforcement Experts (ANIEE), a regional body dedicated to enhancing intellectual property enforcement cooperation among member states.

The review meeting also considered expanding the scope of the MOU beyond listing removals to include more proactive and intelligence-driven enforcement measures. Stakeholders proposed closer coordination between e-commerce platforms and law enforcement agencies to identify supply networks behind counterfeit traders.

Rights holders raised concerns about repeat offenders, inadequate seller verification systems, trademark infringement, and the complexities of cross-border enforcement, highlighting areas for further improvement.

Launched in 2021 with 12 initial signatories, the E-Commerce MOU has grown to include 119 signatories comprising rights holders, online marketplaces, and industry groups. IPOPHL has described the MOU as a private sector-led model aimed at curbing the online sale of counterfeit and pirated goods.

The ongoing success of this initiative underscores the importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration in addressing the challenges posed by online counterfeiting, both within the Philippines and across the ASEAN region.