Published February 7, 2021, 12:39 PM The Manila City prosecutors’ office has dismissed the criminal charges for infringement and unfair competition against the officers of two online payment and processing firms for alleged violations of Republic Act No. 8293, the Intellectual Property Code. Dismissed “without prejudice” (to re-filing) was the infringement complaint against the officers of Electronic Transfer and Advanced Processing, Inc. (ETAP) and BTI Payment Philippines, Inc. filed by Manila Express Payment Systems, Inc. (MEPS), which owns the trademark for “TouchPay.” MEPS is engaged in the business of importing, installing, servicing, selling and leasing of systems and technologies to facilitate and transact payments for cellular phones, while ETAP is engaged in the business of installation, servicing and operation of an electronic payment that would facilitate recharging and loading of prepaid mobile phones, among other things.