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Wednesday, December 10, 2003
City eyes having own IPR Law: Quitain
CITY Mayor Rodrigo Duterte is keen on solving the proliferation of fake and counterfeit products in the city and is willing to approve a template resolution by the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) banning the sale, rental, reproduction and distribution of pirated VCDs, and other fake goods and articles, adminstrator Melchor Quitain said Tuesday.
Quitain, who delivered a speech in behalf of the mayor in Tuesday's Intellectual Property Rights roundtable discussion, said the Mayor is going to study the IPO- created template resolution and the related ordinances created by other cities in the country.
The resolution effected by the Iloilo local government states that "all business licenses and permits to be issued by the local government shall carry the expressed condition that the licensee shall not engage in the sale, rental, distribution, manufacture and or production of pirated, counterfeit or fake goods and articles".
It also authorizes agencies such as Videogram Regulatory Board (VRB), Bureau of Customs (BOC), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and others may bring action against any suspected violators of the ordinance with the local agencies.
The local ordinance made by Iloilo lawmakers imposes penalty fees of not more than P50,000 at the discretion of the court, aside from the revocation or suspension of the business permit by the erring traders.
A separate resolution made by councilors from Naga City also recommends the suspension of business permit of those found guilty for the first offense lasting no longer than 10 days, revocation of business permit for 30 days if found to have violated the second time, and the cancellation of permit for third and subsequent violations.
The Naga City ordinance, however, imposes a penalty fee of only P2,500 or an imprisonment of not more than six months to those found violating the law.
Officials of the IPO said the template ordinance for the LGUs only serves as a guideline and may be modified by local governments. CEU
(December 10, 2003 issue)
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