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Photo shows (L-R) MDPPA Vice President Alfredo O. Lejano, MDPPA President Reynaldo M. Gener, IPOPHL Director General Ricardo R. Blancaflor and Deputy Director General Allan B. Gepty.
In pursuit of intensifying intellectual property rights protection in the motorcycle industry, officials of the Intellectual Property Office Philippines (IPOPHL) and the Motorcycle Development Program Participants Association, Inc. (MDPPA) signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on 20 July 2011 in simple ceremony at the Diamond Hotel Manila.
IPOPHL is the lead agency on intellectual property while the MDPPA is the sole motorcycle association recognized by the Board of Investment tasked to promote and enhance the capabilities of local motorcycle manufacturing firms.
The forging of the partnership recognizes the tremendous value and need to establish an IP environment friendly capable of ensuring ongoing fostering of the motorcycle industry. Under the agreement, IPOPHL shall provide the necessary technical assistance and/or capacity building seminars to the members of MDPPA for the enforcement of IPR in the motorcycle industry as well as ensure seizures of counterfeit products.
For its part, the MDPPA will provide product orientation workshop necessary in identifying counterfeit and pirated goods, assist in IPOPHL and other law enforcement agencies in the surveillance and investigation of persons involved in counterfeiting or infringement activities, and collaborate with IPOPHL and National Committee on Intellectual Property Rights to design a strategic monitoring system that will detect the shipment of counterfeit infringing goods.
“Fake motorcycle parts and components are fatal not only to motorcyclists but to other road users”, Atty. Ricardo R. Blancaflor, IPOPHL Director General, shared during the MOA signing. He emphasized that protection of intellectual property rights should never be compromised.
MDPPA President Reynaldo M. Gener responded that more than just increasing motorcycle sales, one of the thrusts of the Association is to provide a safe mode of transportation. Together with protecting the rights and interests of rightful claimants, it is also our responsibility to uphold safety by generating awareness among consumers on the perils of patronizing counterfeit products, Mr. Gener added.
The Memorandum of Agreement augers well for both the government and the industry as it signal how working together can help realize goals toward meeting the challenges of the business environment.
