Taguig city: An official of the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) on Wednesday underscored the need for closer coordination between regulators and entrepreneurs in the fight against counterfeits. During the media forum spearheaded by TikTok Shop in Taguig City on Wednesday, IPOPHL Bureau of Legal Affairs Director lawyer Christine Canlapan said that as more businesses shift to online platforms, monitoring them has been more challenging 'because it (the mode) doesn't follow the traditional border that we have.' 'And that is where we seek the help of our brand owners themselves to report any issues or concerns regarding violations of their intellectual property rights. Transforming into the digital space, it's already very fast,' she said.
According to Philippines News Agency, this is where online selling platforms such as TikTok Shop become more relevant in ensuring consumer and intellectual property protection. Canlapan said TikTok Shop has been a strong partner of IPOPHL in safeguarding intellectual property. 'In order to help also our MSMEs (micro, small, and medium enterprises) like what we heard during the last panel session, they really need the support of the government and of course, the TikTok Shop as well,' she said. For one, businesses with an online presence are required to register with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) for the E-Commerce Philippine Trustmark, which is intended as a tool against illegitimate businesses and scammers.
The DTI has extended the voluntary registration for the Trustmark until end-2026, which is in line with Republic Act 11967, or the Internet Transactions Act of 2023, and the DTI's Department Administrative Order 25-07.
TikTok Shop head of public policy Yves Gonzales told journalists in an interview that the changing consumer trends, wherein Filipino online shoppers are not relying only on traditional online shops but are starting their online shopping journey through content, livestreams, and short videos. 'Basically, even without the intent there yet, they're already starting their consumer journey, the awareness part. And so they'll see a content from a creator that they like, and then they'll consider it, and then eventually, it goes to the buying phase. The whole buying process has shifted a bit to now being more discovery-centric than searching-centric,' he said.
He said around 90 percent of active sellers in TikTok Shop are local businesses, which, Gonzales said, 'is so important for us.' Last year, sellers on TikTok Shop registered a 200 percent increase in sales. Gonzales expressed hope that this will be sustained this year as more consumers see savings on transportation, among other benefits, compared to when they shop in physical stores. "We cannot yet predict how this situation will play out, especially with how the situation in the Middle East is still a bit uncertain. But definitely, e-commerce is one of the possible ways that the Filipino consumer can actually be in a better situation amidst this energy crisis,' he added.
