The rapid expansion of the Philippine digital economy is putting intellectual property protection higher on the business agenda as brands increasingly build sales, reputations, and customer relationships online.
The country’s digital economy reached P2.74 trillion, equivalent to nearly 10 percent of gross domestic product, with e-commerce accounting for more than 32 percent of the sector and supporting over 75 percent of digital economy jobs.
With more businesses moving online, Shopee Philippines is stepping up efforts to help brands protect their intellectual property and strengthen enforcement against suspected infringements.
Shopee recently held a Brand Protection Bootcamp with the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL), the Department of Trade and Industry, brand owners, and industry partners.
The program featured Shopee’s Brand Portal, a self-service platform that allows intellectual property rights holders to report suspected violations. The e-commerce platform is also strengthening proactive detection and seller accountability measures.
“E-commerce is no longer just a sales channel. It is where brands are discovered, customer relationships are built, and business reputations are earned,” Shopee Philippines Head of Commercial Jack Ng said.
For businesses, stronger online IP protection is becoming increasingly important as counterfeit products, unauthorized use of trademarks, and other violations can undermine legitimate brands and erode consumer confidence.
IPOPHL Deputy Director General Nathaniel Arevalo said effective IP protection could also support investment and innovation.
“When businesses know their brands and innovations can be protected, they are more willing to invest, expand, and bring new ideas to market,” Arevalo said.
Shopee has worked with IPOPHL since becoming an original signatory to the E-Commerce Memorandum of Understanding in 2021.
The company said closer cooperation among government agencies, e-commerce platforms, and rights holders would be crucial as more commercial activity shifts online.
For Philippine businesses, the stakes are rising alongside the digital economy. As online platforms become central to how brands reach consumers, protecting what makes those brands valuable is becoming a business imperative, not merely a legal concern.
