Greenhills Mall Remains on US Counterfeit Watchlist Despite Crackdown Efforts

The United States Trade Representative (USTR) has once again included Greenhills Shopping Center in Metro Manila on its Notorious Markets for Counterfeiting and Piracy list, making it the only Philippine establishment cited in the 2024 report.

Counterfeiting Concerns Persist

The USTR report highlights Greenhills Shopping Center in San Juan City as a physical market where counterfeit and pirated goods continue to thrive. This marks the third consecutive year the mall has been listed, following its inclusion in 2022 and 2023.

While the mall remains popular as a destination for fake goods, the USTR acknowledged efforts by both the Philippine government and mall management to combat counterfeiting.

Efforts to Transform Greenhills

The report noted several initiatives aimed at reducing counterfeit activity:

• Raids and Enforcement: Law enforcement, in collaboration with rights holders, has conducted multiple raids targeting counterfeit sellers.
• Three-Strikes Rule: The mall management has implemented a policy to penalize vendors caught selling fake goods.
• Transition Program: A program has been launched to reposition Greenhills as a high-end mall featuring legitimate sellers, with incentives and premium locations offered to vendors of local products.

Despite these measures, the USTR flagged concerns about secret storerooms used to hide counterfeit items and the mall’s ongoing reputation on social media as a hub for fake goods.

Seizures of Counterfeit Goods

The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) reported record-breaking counterfeit seizures, with $617.8 million worth of fake goods confiscated from January to September 2024—up from $471.4 million in 2023. The USTR recognized this as a positive development, reflecting enhanced enforcement and stakeholder collaboration.

Nathaniel Arevalo, officer-in-charge of IPOPHL, expressed the agency’s commitment to curbing counterfeiting:
“This development reflects IPOPHL’s dedication to curbing counterfeiting and our increased collaboration with rights holders to ensure action.”

Awaiting Results

Despite these improvements, the USTR said rights holders remain cautious, waiting to see whether the transition program will significantly address the counterfeit trade.

Greenhills Shopping Center management has yet to respond to requests for comment as of this posting.