Now in its fifth year, E-Commerce Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) against online counterfeiting facilitated by the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) continues to show growing impact, with stakeholders reporting improved enforcement outcomes and streamlined processes for addressing online infringement, while also gaining attention as a possible model for regional cooperation in ASEAN.
During the 6th Review and Assessment of the E-Commerce MOU held last week, representatives from signatory rights holders, industry chambers, and e-commerce platforms shared how the MOU enabled faster coordination, more efficient complaint resolution, and improved communication channels. They also cited significant increases in counterfeit listing takedowns under the initiative.
One signatory from mid-2024 reported an over threefold increase in deleted listings in 2025 compared to the year prior, noting that this has significantly contributed to revenue recovery that year. Other signatories likewise reported takedowns of counterfeit listings in as little as 24 hours to within three days, attributing the improved response time and stronger coordination among stakeholders to the MOU.
Member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are also seeking to draw lessons from the E-Commerce MOU as the region strengthens cooperation against online counterfeiting, with representatives from Indonesia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Myanmar, Singapore, and Timor-Leste in attendance at the meeting.
“Our initiative has been continuously cited as a best practice that ASEAN members could replicate to fight counterfeit goods online,” said IPOPHL Deputy Director General Nathaniel S. Arevalo.
One signatory’s representative noted that the challenges they faced in the Philippines are often mirrored across other ASEAN markets and that the MOU “could serve as a practical reference point and a learning model for the region.”
As ASEAN member states (AMS) look to the Philippines’ experience for guidance, stakeholders expressed optimism that the framework can help strengthen regional responses to evolving challenges. The Philippines currently chairs the ASEAN Network of IP Rights Enforcement Experts (ANIEE), reinforcing its leading role in advancing regional cooperation on IP enforcement and facilitating the exchange of best practices among AMS.
Expanding the fight against online counterfeiting
The meeting also discussed possibilities to broaden the MOU’s focus beyond listing takedowns toward stronger deterrence, proactive enforcement, and the long-term reduction of counterfeit trade.
Signatories discussed the evolving role of e-commerce platforms in supporting offline enforcement efforts, recommending closer integration and coordination with enforcement agencies to help address the broader supply networks behind counterfeit traders. They further emphasized the importance of sustained consumer education campaigns as a long-term strategy to reduce the circulation of counterfeit goods and strengthen consumer protection.
Rights holders called for measures to address persistent challenges, including the need for stronger seller verification systems and stricter action against repeat infringers employing increasingly sophisticated tactics. They likewise raised concerns over trademark infringement and the complexities of cross-border enforcement, underscoring the need for more harmonized approaches across jurisdictions.
Above all, stakeholders emphasized the need for more proactive and intelligence-driven enforcement approaches, entailing expanded coverage of the MOU.
The E-Commerce MOU has been recognized as a pioneering private sector partnership model to combat the online sale of counterfeit and pirated goods. From its initial 12 signatories in 2021, the MOU has grown to 119. # # # (Rawl Maliwat, Communications & Marketing Writer)
Want your story to be published? Subscribe to TNC via email partnerships@thenewchannel.com.
Follow TNC on Social Media FB – https://www.facebook.com/TNCnow/, IG – https://www.instagram.com/tncnow/, Tiktok – https://www.tiktok.com/@tncnow, LI – https://www.linkedin.com/company/thenewchannel/, X – https://x.com/tnc_now, YT – https://www.youtube.com/@TNCNow
Be updated on what’s new around the world, check your published stories by searching #TNCnow #OnTNC or check them out here: https://thenewchannel.com/highligh