A Senate panel will assess bills regarding online content policies
The Senate Committee on Trade and Industry, headed by Sen. Mark Villar, will discuss two bills aimed at empowering the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) to combat online content piracy in the country.
The bills, SB 2150 and SB 2385 authored by Senators Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada and Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., respectively, seek to amend the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines to address digital piracy, which negatively impacts various creative industries.
SB 2150 proposes measures to disable access to online sites facilitating copyright infringement and introduces preventive action procedures and site blocking. Meanwhile, SB 2385 aims to empower IPOPHL to disable access to copyright-infringing sites and initiate site-blocking measures.
The bills recommend fines ranging from P5,000 to P1 million, with additional fines for continuing violations. Entertainment personalities have urged the swift passage of these bills to combat content piracy and protect intellectual property rights.
If enacted, SBs 2150 and 2385 will update and strengthen the IPC and enhance IPOPHL’s enforcement capabilities against online piracy, removing limitations on its control over electronic and online content.
In 2022, IPOPHL’s IP Rights Enforcement Office received 37 reports of online piracy, with general and educational books and e-books being the most common pirated content. The majority of piracy incidents occurred on e-commerce platforms, social media, and other websites.
Politics News: A Senate panel will assess bills regarding online content policies
