IPOPHL enlists key book publisher in war vs. piracy

Educational book publisher Rex Education has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) to join the industry-wide initiative to combat content piracy and unauthorized distribution of copyrighted content.

Rex Education chief external affairs officer Danda Crimelda Buhain-Garcia said the partnership with the IPOPHL is a crucial step in the company’s fight against piracy.

“Through IPOPHL’ leadership, we are not only addressing the legal aspects of intellectual property protection, but also collaborating with e-commerce platforms to ensure that they, too, are committed to safeguarding the rights of creators and educators,” Buhain-Garcia said.

The book publisher joins more than 40 other big names in the IPOPHL e-commerce pact such as Lazada, Shopee, Tiktok and Zalora.

IPOPHL deputy director general Nathaniel Arevalo said that one of the main purposes of the MOU is to establish a code of practice in the fight against the sale of counterfeit and pirated use of the internet.

He added that it will also enhance collaboration among stakeholders and implement an efficient notice and takedown procedure for violators.

“Originally conceived as a stop-gap measure, the MOU has proven to be an effective tool in helping us achieve our goals,” he said.

According to the IPOPHL’s records, books, pamphlets, articles, e-books, audio books, comics, novels and other writings category accounted for 52.5 percent of copyright registrations in 2023.

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This segment was followed by audiovisual works and cinematographic works with a share of 18.1 percent, while filings for computer programs, software, games and applications accounted for 8.8 percent.

Meanwhile, filings for musical compositions, with or without lyrics, accounted for 6.1 percent. Drawings, paintings, architectural works, sculpture, engraving, prints, lithography, or other works of art, models or designs for works of art were at 4.9 percent.

Franklin Benedict Guerra, general manager at Rex Education’s law business unit, said that the unauthorized printing of copyrighted materials is hurting the local publishing industry.

He estimates that piracy results in about a 15-percent revenue loss each year for the industry amounting to tens of millions of pesos.