South Cotabato to go after “pirates” and counterfeiters

GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Nov. 28 (PNA) –- The provincial government of South Cotabato plans to link up with the Videogram Regulatory Board (VRB) and various law enforcement agencies to strengthen its campaign against the proliferation of pirated and counterfeit products in the area.

South Cotabato Vice Governor Eliordo Ogena said the local government wants to tap the VRB, Philippine National Police and the National Bureau of Investigation, to assist its monitoring and enforcement activities, especially the sale and distribution of pirated and counterfeit or fake items in the local markets.

"Piracy and counterfeiting of intellectual property do not only cause economic prejudice and demoralization on legitimate businessmen and establishments but it also results in unrealized revenues and taxes for the province," he said.

To help curb the problem, Ogena said the local government has renewed anew its campaign against piracy and counterfeiting of intellectual property in the area through the passage of Ordinance No. 03, series of 2008, by the South Cotabato provincial board.

He said the measure specifically restricts the sale, rental, transfer, distribution, manufacture and/or reproduction of pirated, counterfeit or fake goods, articles or services in the province's 10 towns and lone city.

Under the Ordinance, holders of business licenses issued by the provincial government are barred from directly engaging or permitting other persons to sell, rent, transfer, distribute, manufacture and/or reproduce pirated, counterfeit or fake goods, articles or services within their business establishment or premises.

Ogena said the provincial government may temporarily revoke or suspend the business licenses or permits of erring traders for at least 10 days for the first violation, 30 days for the second violation and outright cancellation for the third and subsequent violations.

Depending on the gravity of their offense, violators may also be ordered to pay a fine of P2,500 or imprisonment of at least six months.