Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 623)
The main purpose of Republic Act No. 623 is to regulate the use of duly stamped or marked bottles, boxes, casks, kegs, barrels, and other similar containers used for manufacturing, bottling, or selling beverages such as soda water, mineral or aerated waters, cider, milk, and cream.
Persons engaged or licensed to manufacture, bottle, or sell the mentioned beverages with stamped or marked containers must register the description of the names or marks and their intended use with the Philippine Patent Office.
The registration must comply with the same conditions, rules, and regulations applicable to the issuance of trademarks by law or regulation.
No, it is unlawful to fill, sell, dispose of, buy, traffic in, or destroy containers that are stamped or marked without the written consent of the registered manufacturer, bottler, or seller.
Violations are punishable by a fine of not more than one hundred pesos, imprisonment of not more than thirty days, or both.
Possession of duly marked or stamped containers by junk dealers or dealers in such containers is prima facie evidence that such possession is unlawful if the person is not the registered manufacturer, bottler, or seller.
No, the criminal actions under this Act do not affect any civil action the registered manufacturer, bottler, or seller may be entitled to by law or contract.
No, no action shall be brought against a person to whom the registered owner has transferred containers by way of sale unless the sale includes the containers specifically.
Yes, the Act does not prohibit the use of bottles as containers for native products such as "sisi", "bagoong", "patis", and similar native products.
The Act took effect upon its approval, which was on June 5, 1951.