Globe Telecom Inc. said it is supporting the government’s move to amend the 26-year-old Intellectual Property Code to strengthen enforcement against online content piracy.
“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,” said Globe chief sustainability and corporate communications officer Yoly Crisanto.
“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,” she said.
Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon Revilla Jr. filed separate bills to strengthen the Intellectual Property Code, a parallel measure to House Bill No. 7600 by Rep. Joey Salceda of Albay’s 2nd District in the House of Representatives which passed third reading in May 2023.
The legislative efforts are designed to update Republic Act No. 8293, also known as the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines, which was established in 1997, well before online content piracy became prevalent.
Amending the Intellectual Property Code to strengthen enforcement against online content piracy will institutionalize a landmark memorandum of understanding that the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) signed with Globe and other leading Internet service providers (ISPs) in the country to establish a site-blocking mechanism against pirate sites.
The MOU, the first of its kind in Asia, is a significant step forward against online content piracy as it establishes a voluntary site-blocking practice against the unauthorized distribution and sale of pirated content over the internet.
The MOU also outlines the general principles and procedures for site blocking as it underscores collaboration between IPOPHL and ISPs.
The proposed bills by Estrada and Revilla 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 2150, submitted on May 9, 2023, suggests blocking access to websites promoting copyright violations and proposes fines of up to P1 million. Meanwhile, Revilla’s Senate Bill No. 2385, filed on Aug. 1, 2023, focuses on enhancing the IPOPHL’s authority and responsibilities.
Estrada highlighted the significant spike in online film piracy during the COVID-19 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 (CAP), 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.
