Consumer Group Urges Investigation Into Dali’s Alleged ‘Knockoff’ Brands by Intellectual Property Office

A consumer advocacy group, Malayang Konsyumer, has called on the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) to investigate alleged intellectual property violations by Dali Everyday Grocery. The group claims that Dali is selling “knockoff” products that are “confusingly similar” to well-established brands in the country.

In a letter to IPOPHL Director General Rowel Barba, Malayang Konsyumer spokesperson Simoun Antonio Salinas reported that the group has received numerous complaints about Dali’s products, which they believe potentially infringe on the Intellectual Property Code. The letter included photos of Dali products that allegedly mimic popular brands, such as:

• Grandbisco Choco Bar Cake and Grandbisco Chocolate Chip Cookies (resembling Lemon Square Lava Cake and Galinco Chips Delight)
• Say Cheese Spread (similar to Chiz Whiz)
• Wagi Vienna Sausage (resembling CDO Vienna Sausage)
• Kopi Juan (a knockoff of Kopiko)
• Bakakult (Dali’s version of Yakult)
• Kingrox Bleach (similar to Zonrox Bleach)

Salinas argued that these products violate Section 123 of the Intellectual Property Code, which prohibits the registration of marks that are identical or nearly identical to existing registered marks, as they may cause confusion or deceive consumers.

He urged IPOPHL to use its authority to conduct an inquiry into these potential violations, stressing the importance of protecting consumers from deceptive practices.

GMA News Online reached out to Hard Discount Philippines, the operator of Dali Everyday Grocery, for comment but has not yet received a response.

Previously, IPOPHL ordered Dali to remove three products from its shelves after determining that they were “confusingly similar” to products by Nutri-Asia Inc., such as UFC and Datu Puti.

Malayang Konsyumer is a multi-sectoral organization advocating for consumer rights and legal protections for Filipinos.