Members of the Philippines' anti-counterfeit E-Commerce MOU say fake listings now come down in as little as 24 hours to three days. Temu, a shopping app where a US think tank bought 10 likely counterfeit products last year, has now signed that agreement.
The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) announced on November 5 that Temu has joined the MOU (memorandum of understanding). Here is what that changes for Filipino shoppers, and what it does not.
What Temu signed
IPOPHL said it arranged the signing after first talks with Temu at a World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) dialogue on online IP protection in June. Temu entered the Philippines in 2023 and operates in more than 90 markets.
IPOPHL Deputy Director General Nathaniel Arevalo said e-commerce platforms are important partners "in protecting buyers and legitimate businesses from counterfeit goods."
Temu joins other marketplace signatories that IPOPHL names: Lazada, Shopee, Zalora and TikTok Shop.
How the E-Commerce MOU works
The MOU is a partnership between online platforms, brand owners, industry groups and IPOPHL. It is not a law. IPOPHL calls it a "private sector partnership model" against online fakes.
At its sixth yearly review in May, IPOPHL reported that:
- The MOU grew from 12 signatories in 2021 to 119, nearly ten times as many (before Temu joined)
- Some signatories saw counterfeit listings removed within 24 hours to three days
- One signatory that joined in mid-2024 reported more than three times as many deleted listings in 2025 as in 2024
The same review also listed problems that remain. Brand owners asked for stronger checks on who sellers are, and tougher action against repeat offenders. They also flagged how hard it is to act against sellers based in other countries. Signatories discussed moving beyond removing listings toward stopping the supply networks behind them.
Why Temu's record matters
In comments filed with the US Trade Representative on September 23, 2025, the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) said it bought 10 likely counterfeit products on Temu. They covered cosmetics, toys, over-the-counter medicine, household goods and clothing. ITIF listed three as confirmed fakes, including a dog treat whose maker told ITIF, "these are fakes."
ITIF said Temu removed nearly every flagged product and seller after its report. But it still found more over-the-counter medicines on the platform, and said Temu's enforcement "still has substantial room for improvement." Those purchases were made for a US study, not in the Philippines.
What Temu says it already does
According to the details in IPOPHL's release, Temu:
- Launched an IP Protection Portal in 2023
- Started a "Brand Guardian" program in 2024 that works with more than 3,000 brand owners
- Runs a monitoring database covering more than 15,000 brands, using over 47 million images and 9.5 million keywords to spot possible fakes before a brand files a complaint
- Is a member of the International Anti-Counterfeiting Coalition
These are Temu's own figures. IPOPHL's release does not include any Philippine takedown numbers for Temu yet.
How to report a fake you found online
You do not have to be the brand owner to report. IPOPHL's Intellectual Property Rights Enforcement Office (IEO) says it receives reports on counterfeiting and piracy from rights holders, government agencies "and the public in general." An enforcement action can start from a simple report or from a formal verified complaint.
- Email: operations@ipophl.gov.ph
- Mobile: 0966 769 1448
- Online: the IEO page links to an IP Violation Complaint Form and a step-by-step guide to reporting a violation
The IEO handles the fake goods themselves. If a seller tricked you into paying, that is a scam, and our guide to every way to report a scam in the Philippines lists the channels for that.
Be most careful with products you put on your skin or swallow. ITIF's test buys on Temu included cosmetics and cold medicine, and a fake there can do more than waste your money.
