The Philippines has avoided inclusion the United States’ piracy and counterfeiting watch lists for the 13th straight year, and the country has even been cited as among those adopting “best practices” in intellectual property (IP) protection and enforcement, according to the Special 301 Report recently released by the United States Trade Representative (USTR), which identified 26 trading partners with significant IP enforcement concerns.
However, the list is separate from the USTR’s annual “notorious markets” list, where the Philippines – particularly the Greenhills Shopping Center in San Juan – remains cited in the 2025 edition.
In the Special 301 Report, the Philippines was highlighted for recent enforcement gains, such as the rollout of a dedicated e-Commerce Bureau under the Department of Trade and Industry, which aims to tighten oversight of online transactions, including the sale of counterfeit goods.
It also noted efforts to formalize coordination between the bureau and the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL).
The report cited IPOPHL initiatives to strengthen enforcement and public awareness against counterfeiting, including a national judicial colloquium on IP adjudication and the “Pirated Inferno” antipiracy campaign.
The report also cited the Philippines among countries that have adopted laws and enforcement measures against unauthorized camcording in theaters, alongside Canada, Japan, Peru, and Ukraine.
However, despite the recognition, the USTR flagged lingering concerns in the country, noting that it remains a source of counterfeit medicines globally, citing a 2020 study by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.
It also raised concerns over slow trademark opposition and cancellation proceedings, alongside similar issues in India, Malaysia, Pakistan, Belarus, and Panama.
Despite gains in intellectual property protection and enforcement, we all know that the Philippines remains a hotspot and it might take a generation or so before Filipinos shed their bad habits when it comes to all sorts of IP. However, any recognition certainly deserves praise, as getting here has been a long and difficult journey, and aside from that, we certainly need encouragement as we still have a ways to go.*
