Globe Telecom Inc. yesterday expressed support to Senate bills that will amend the 26-year-old Intellectual Property Code to strengthen enforcement against online content piracy.
Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon Revilla Jr. have filed separate bills to strengthen the Code, a parallel measure to House Bill No. 7600 by Albay 2nd District Rep. Joey Salceda in the House of Representatives which passed third reading in May.
“The Globe Group recognizes the urgent need to modernize the Intellectual Property Code, especially in the face of growing online threats such as online content piracy. It’s crucial to safeguard our creative industries, their workforce, and consumers who might unknowingly access malicious links on pirated websites, jeopardizing their personal data,” said Yoly Crisanto, Globe chief sustainability and corporate communications officer.
The proposed bills by Estrada and Revilla, both actors who are personally familiar with the perils of film piracy, aim to empower the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) to restrict access to copyright-infringing sites and initiate site-blocking measures, supporting the creative sectors against rampant piracy.
Estrada’s Senate Bill (SB) 2150, submitted on May 9, suggests blocking access to websites promoting copyright violations and proposes fines of up to P1 million. Revilla’s SB 2385, filed on August 1, focuses on enhancing IPOPHL’s authority and responsibilities.
Estrada highlighted the significant spike in online film piracy during the coronavirus pandemic, with illegal online links to Filipino films, including those from the 2020 Metro Manila Film Festival, being widely shared on social media.
The IPOPHL reported a noticeable increase in online piracy and counterfeiting activities in 2020, with the number of reports and complaints exceeding the average in the previous five years.
Surveys by YouGov, commissioned by the Coalition Against Piracy, suggest that enforcing site-blocking could greatly benefit the Philippines’ P1.6-trillion creative industries, which contributed 7.3 percent to the country’s economy in 2022.
