Professional Documents
Culture Documents
25, 2012
NR # 2842
However, Rodriguez said, despite being on the watch list, the United States is encouraged by the significant decline in the incidence of unauthorized cam-cording of motion pictures in theaters that followed the enactment of the Anti-Camcording Act of 2010. According to the USTR, Philippine officials also improved in its enforcement efforts, leading to the closure of at least two significant notorious markets but needs to improve on areas, particularly in the criminal enforcement of IPR, which must be strengthened by improving the quality of criminal investigations and prosecutions, Rodriguez said. Rodriguez said the same report mentioned that the Supreme Court of the Philippines have promulgated the long-awaited IPR procedural rules in 2011, which will hopefully help streamline the judicial process for IPR cases. Unfortunately, Rodriguez said, the report also cited areas where the Philippines needs to improve on particularly in the criminal enforcement of IPR which should be strengthened by improving the quality of criminal investigations and prosecutions. Rodriguez said the USTR also urged the Philippines to clarify its procedures for obtaining provisional measure and enact long pending legislation to amend its copyright law and ensure that it fully implements the WIPO Internet Treaties. Among the areas of concern include amendments to the Patent Law that limit the patentability of certain chemical forms unless the applicant demonstrates increased efficacy, the lack of an effective system for protecting against the unfair commercial use, as well as unauthorized disclosure, of test or other date generated to obtain marketing approval for pharmaceutical and agricultural chemical products; and the policies that inhibit U.S. exports of IPR-intensive products to the Philippines, including measures that limit the market for imported pharmaceutical products. (30) lvc