THE Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) has asked internet service providers (ISPs) to block six websites streaming pirated content.
IPOPHL was acting on a complaint lodged by the Motion Pictures Association, Inc. whose member studios include Disney, Netflix, Paramount, Sony, Universal and Warner Bros. Discovery against SFlix and MyFlixer which operate the infringing sites.
IPOPHL yesterday issued two requests for the ISPs to disable access the six domains: SFlix sites namely sflix.to, sflix.se and sflix.is and; MyFlixer sites myflixerz.to, myflixertv.to and myflixer.
The requests were posted on the IPOPHL website for five days starting October 24 before being sent to ISPs yesterday for their appropriate action, giving website owners time and due process to respond as prescribed by IPOPHL’s Memorandum Circular 2023-025 or the Rules on Voluntary Administrative Site Blocking.
Based on MPA’s complaints, the “websites have neither authority nor permission, from the rightsholders, expressed or implied, to make available, publish, copy, print, reproduce, use, or make available for download or for streaming in any manner of any of the Rightsholders’ copyrighted works.”
The copyrighted works at issue include “Shazam!”, “Raya and the Last Dragon”, “Girls Trip”, “Day Shift”, “Jumanji: The Next Level” and “Top Gun: Maverick”, among others. The cited titles only represent “a small, non-exhaustive sample of the widespread infringement” happening on the websites.
A thorough examination by the IPOPHL’s Enforcement Office of the evidence presented and the evaluation report submitted reveals that all the cited websites are hosting pirated versions of movies or TV shows, allowing users to access these illegal copies by downloading or streaming them.
“By hosting pirated content and allowing users to access illegal copies through downloading or streaming, Respondents undermine the exclusive rights of Complainants,” the requests read, noting such are violations of Section 216 of Republic Act 18293 or the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines (IP Code) as amended.
The requests coincide with the celebration this month of National Anti-Piracy Month.
