The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) has noted a surge in unprecedented numbers copyright infringement and piracy cases reported or filed with the agency during the pandemic, almost all such reports took place online.
Teodoro Pascua, IPOPHL deputy director-general, said in his speech at a press conference announcing the 1st PH International Copyright Summit in November, said the agency is pushing to have the authority to issue provisional and final takedown orders or cease-and-desist orders for the removal of IP rights infringing content from the online space.
Pascua said IPOPHL has started working with copyright-based industries and associations, internet service providers and the National Telecommunications Commission to explore how the site-blocking mechanism can take form to provide an effective and fast procedure that is accessible to all.
Pascua said copyright infringement and piracy especially due to a pandemic has accelerated digitalization and that IPOPHL has vowed to be aggressive in stamping out piracy.
Rowel Barba, IPOPHL director-general, for his part said the agency will continue to promote efficient royalty collections and will help local creative economy players attain greater control over their works and save them from being entrapped to restrictive, one-sided contracts.
Barba said the Philippines is gearing towards greater prioritization of its creative economy, with government targeting the country to be the number one creative economy in Southeast Asia.
Barba said according to a July 2020 joint survey of the World Bank, National Economic Development Authority and Department of Finance which assessed the impacts of COVID-19 on Philippine businesses, the arts, entertainment, and recreation sector saw the highest business closures at 82 percent —— with 61percent temporarily shut while 21 percent permanently closed due to the enhanced community quarantine.
He added some 50 local and foreign speakers will gather at the Summit in November to discuss the latest trends and challenges in copyright regulations and enforcement, including curbing infringement in the country and helping creators have greater control over their copyright and related rights.
Officials from creative economy companies, associations and pertinent government agencies will unite at the weeklong event, themed “United in Copyright,” to educate the general public of the value of copyright to the struggling sector.
“Scaling up copyright appreciation in the country is very urgent today given that the creative economy was hit the hardest from this pandemic’s quarantine,” Barba said.
