MANILA, Philippines — Greenhills Shopping Center in San Juan City remains under the watchful eye of the United States government, appearing once again as the only physical establishment in the Philippines on the 2025 Review of Notorious Markets for Counterfeiting and Piracy.
The annual report, released by the USTR on Wednesday, noted that while enforcement has improved, Greenhills continues to be a major hub for counterfeit electronics, perfumes, watches, fashion accessories, and luxury items.
- The “Three-Strikes” Rule: The mall management has implemented a policy to evict tenants caught selling fakes multiple times.
- Enforcement Progress: Over 300 stalls were reportedly removed from the mall in the past year due to counterfeit activity.
- Top Offenses: Fake apparel accounts for roughly 40% of confiscated goods, with a significant portion being counterfeit Nike products.
Philippine authorities, including the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL), are working with the mall’s management on a long-term “transition program.”
- Goal: To convert Greenhills into a high-end retail complex that exclusively hosts legitimate sellers.
- NCIPR Help Desk: A help desk set up by the National Committee on Intellectual Property Rights (NCIPR) has been established on-site to assist rights holders.
Greenhills has been a staple on the U.S. piracy watch list every year since 2021. While rights holders have acknowledged the “landmark” steps taken by the government, the USTR emphasized that many are still waiting to see if these changes will result in a permanent and significant reduction in the volume of fake goods.
