INDUSTRIAL importer and wholesaler Accupower Distributors Inc. (ADI) has signed an e-commerce memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (Ipophl), the IP body said on Monday.
Established in 2021, the MOU is a voluntary agreement that enhances IP protection through streamlined notice-and-takedown procedures, proactive monitoring, and improved seller verification of its products online.
A total of 97 brand owners have since signed up for the agreement.
ADI, based on Binondo, Manila, is an importer and distributor of industrial, agricultural, and automotive belts. Its contract with Ipophl, signed on Jan. 28, formalizes its commitment to strengthen measures in addressing online counterfeiting related to its product lines.
The agreement comes amid concerns over the rampant distribution of illegal industrial items online, particularly fake versions of ADI’s flagship products from Japanese industrial companies Bando and Fujibelt.
These items not only harm business interests and brand integrity, but also pose significant risks to ADI customers since their products are used widely in machinery and automotive applications.
“More than the lost revenue of the rightful intellectual property (IP) owner of the brand, a fake belt means a machinery that might fail, a car that might break down, or a factory that stops running,” said ADI vice president for sales and marketing Allan Hao Chin.
“As we concretize our participation in this MOU with major e-commerce platforms, with the support of Ipophl, we can now move from passive frustration to proactive collaboration with the relevant stakeholders,” Hao Chin added.
For his part, Ipophl Acting Director General Nathaniel Arevalo said: “Through this commitment to make available only quality and genuine products in the market, we can ensure that we uphold ADI’s IP rights, and at the same time, prioritize public safety.”