P63-M fake Louis Vuitton goods seized in Greenhills Shopping Center

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) seized P63 million worth of alleged counterfeit or fake items in a single day operation at the Greenhills Shopping Center in San Juan City, according to the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL).

According to IPOPHL reports, the operation was started by the National Group on Intellectual Property Rights (NCIPR), a 15-member agency committee headed by IPOPHL.

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At least 755 reportedly fake Louis Vuitton products were seized from the Greenhills Shopping Center, which, according to IPOPHL, is currently on the US Trade Representative’s list of Notorious Markets for Counterfeiting and Piracy.

Teodoro Pascua, IPOPHL Deputy Director General, stated the NCIPR is committed to transforming Greenhills Shopping Center’s reputation as a haven for counterfeit goods.

“Unless drastically changed, Greenhill’s reputation as a go-to for fake goods will damage our country’s reputation, eventually affecting our economic interests in the US and other trading partners that highly value intellectual property (IP) protection,” Pascua said.

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Following the operation, the NCIPR met with Greenhills Shopping Center management to discuss potential steps and measures to combat the selling of counterfeit goods.

Greenhills’ External Affairs Head and Legal Manager Isagani Elacio has told the committee that any future action plans will be coordinated with authorities, according to IPOPHL.

P63-M fake Louis Vuitton goods seized in Greenhills Shopping Center

Elacio is said to have offered to set up an onsite office for NCIPR to help educate store owners about the hazards of selling counterfeit goods and how to get Greenhills Shopping Center off the USTR’s list.

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IPOPHL added that a representative from the US Embassy was also present during the meeting to clarify the USTR report.

The United States Trade Representative has placed Greenhills Shopping Center on a watch list for allegedly selling counterfeit electronic goods, perfumes, watches, shoes, accessories, and other high-end fashion items.

Following the Department of the Interior and Local Government’s order about IP protection, Pascua stated that they are not only focusing on large markets, but are also bringing the fight against counterfeit merchandise to the barangay level.

According to Memorandum Circular No. 2020-124, local government units are enjoined to ban “the sale, transfer, manufacture and/or production of pirated, counterfeit and fake goods, as well as observe Optical Media Board rules.”

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