Corsearch has joined the Philippines' E-Commerce Memorandum of Understanding, which brings together more than 100 eCommerce platforms, brand owners and industry groups to tackle counterfeit goods sold online.
It was invited to become a signatory after the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines recognised its work in stopping intellectual property, terms and conditions, and regulatory violations before listings go live through its Corsearch Visual Authentication Network, or CVAN.
The voluntary accord is led by IPOPHL and includes major online marketplaces operating in the country, including Lazada, Shopee, TikTok Shop and Zalora. Signatories commit to rapid notice-and-takedown processes and to monitoring counterfeit products on their platforms.
Under the arrangement, Corsearch's role will extend beyond identifying suspect listings. Using AI-based analysis and intelligence shared through the agreement, it aims to trace the networks behind counterfeit activity and disrupt the infrastructure supporting them.
The Philippines pact
The memorandum is part of a broader effort by online platforms, brands and trade groups to coordinate enforcement as counterfeit sellers become more active and harder to track across digital marketplaces. The Philippines initiative stands out for its scale and the range of groups involved, spanning domestic and international businesses as well as foreign chambers.
IPOPHL has positioned the agreement as a way to improve cooperation between marketplaces and rights holders, with a stronger emphasis on prevention rather than relying only on complaints after goods appear online. That shift is reflected in the inclusion of technology providers that can screen listings before publication and support investigations into repeat offenders.
"Corsearch is incredibly proud to become signatory of the E-Commerce MOU, a landmark initiative which truly sets a global benchmark for how public-private partnerships can effectively secure the eCommerce system. This radical collaboration, spearheaded by the IPOPHL, enables platforms and rights holders to align their efforts, and for the eCommerce industry it represents the era of transition from reactive takedowns to proactive ecosystem protection," said Pietro Gagliano, Director of Corsearch Labs at Corsearch.
Counterfeit trade remains a persistent problem for online marketplaces in Southeast Asia, where large volumes of third-party listings can make manual enforcement difficult. Rights holders have increasingly pushed platforms to speed up removals and improve checks on sellers and products before listings are published.
Under the memorandum, participating platforms are expected to work together on methods to detect and remove counterfeit listings more effectively. Shared intelligence can also help identify links between separate seller accounts, listings and supply routes that may point to organised operations rather than isolated infringements.
Acting Director General Nathaniel S. Arevalo of IPOPHL said Corsearch's addition could strengthen that approach as infringing activity becomes more sophisticated.
"Corsearch's entry into the E-Commerce MOU marks a significant step toward more proactive enforcement of brands' IP rights. As the volume and sophistication of infringing goods continue to rise across online marketplaces, its AI-powered CVAN offers a welcome solution that will greatly strengthen effective trademark protection," said Nathaniel S. Arevalo, Acting Director General of IPOPHL.
Focus on prevention
Corsearch's CVAN system was recently launched as an AI-native tool designed to detect problematic content before it appears online. In this case, the technology is being used not only for trademark enforcement but also to identify broader violations tied to platform rules and regulatory requirements.
That emphasis on early detection reflects a wider shift in online enforcement, as marketplaces and brands look for ways to stop listings going live rather than relying entirely on notices submitted after publication. For brands, that can reduce the time counterfeit goods are visible to shoppers. For platforms, it can limit repeated abuse by sellers who open new accounts after previous removals.
Gagliano said the agreement should support more regular exchanges between companies involved in policing online trade.
"For Corsearch, platforms and brand owners, the MOU represents more than a signature on a document. It brings together major players in the eCommerce space for continuous, open dialogue, information sharing and technical discussions that will help lead to more efficient enforcement. Only through proactive cooperation between platforms, brands and technology providers can we make the internet the safest possible place for everyone," Gagliano said.