The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) invited Swedish furniture giant Ikea to join consumer brands in the fight against online scamming and other fraudulent online activities following the unauthorized use of IKEA logos on fake products.
Local and international consumer brands signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to stop the sale of counterfeit products and pirated goods over the internet.
Should the Swedish brand decides to join the MOU, it will be joining ranks of major consumer brands like Procter and Gamble Philippines, Unilever Philippines Inc., GlaxoSmithKline Philippines Inc., GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthline Philippines, Globe Telecom Inc., Castrol Ltd., Philippine Retailers Association, American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, British Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines and Solar Pictures Inc. which joined on behalf of American firms operating in the country.
Ikea has sought the assistance of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to address the proliferation of IKEA scam websites.
According to IKEA, scam websites using IKEA logos are rampant on the virtual platforms and are continuously swindling Filipino consumers. During the latest monitoring period, IKEA reported more than 700 victims who were conned to spend an average of P2,000 per transaction.
IKEA said scam websites using IKEA logos were rampant on the virtual platforms and were continuously swindling Filipino consumers. IKEA said more than 700 victims were conned to spend an average of P2,000 per transaction.
IKEA reached out to Digital Philippines e-Commerce Division. The IPOPHL MOU signing is just one of the initiatives with IKEA. The DPH-ECD team will pursue advocacy initiatives in collaboration with the DTI Consumer Protection Group to warn the consuming public.
The Bureau of Trademarks, earlier, noted that the fight against IP infringement in the digital space remains a significant challenge not only for IPOPHL, but for brand owners.