Case Digest: SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT, INC., v. BRIGHT FUTURE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT, INC., v. BRIGHT FUTURE
TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

           Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc. (SCEI) filed a complaint against Bright Future Technologies Inc. for copyright and trademark infringement before the Regional Trial Court of Manila. The RTC issued search warrants following which a raid was conducted on the premises of Bright Future Technologies, Inc. (BFTI).

                BFTI filed an Urgent Motion to Quash and/or to Exclude or Suppress Evidence and Return Seized Articles. BFTI contends that SCEI had no personality to represent the People of the Philippines and to file the opposition to the motion because SCEI’s agents were mere witnesses of the applicant for the issuance of the search warrants. However, the said motion was denied.

              The RTC held that it would treat SCEI’s counsel as an officer of the Court and that the two-witness rule was violated hence, it granted BFTI’s Motion for Reconsideration. Subsequently, and return the items that were seized, subject to the filing of a bond.

ISSUE:

Whether or not SCEI has the right to participate in search warrant proceedings

HELD:

In United Laboratories, Inc. v. Isip a private individual or a private corporation complaining to the NBI or to a government agency charged with the enforcement of special penal laws, such as the BFAD, may appear, participate and file pleadings in the search warrant proceedings to maintain, inter alia, the validity of the search warrant issued by the court and the admissibility of the properties seized in anticipation of a criminal case to be filed; such private party may do so in collaboration with the NBI or such government agency. The party may file an opposition to a motion to quash the search warrant issued by the court, or a motion for the reconsideration of the court order granting such motion to quash.

When SCEI then opposed BFTI’s Urgent Motion to Quash and/or to Suppress or Exclude Evidence and Return Seized Articles, the RTC correctly recognized the participation of SCEI in the proceedings.