IP rights body cautions vs use of copyrighted materials for election campaigns
The government’s intellectual property (IP) body on Wednesday advised candidates to adhere to IP rights, advising them not to use copyrighted materials for their campaign jingles, slogans and merchandise without permission from their authors.
In a statement, the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) reminded candidates to allocate sufficient time to obtain permission from artists whose works will be used in their campaigns.
“Candidates’ respect for IP rights is a litmus test of their integrity and trustworthiness as future public servants. I don’t think any voter would like to see any copyright owner and artist, especially their favorite artists, deprived of their right to have a say on the use of their work for a political campaign,” said IPOPHL director general Rowel S. Barba.
Apart from public backlash, Barba said that political candidates who use an artist’s intellectual property without permission may also face copyright infringement lawsuits.
Secure right licenses
Bureau of Copyright and Related Rights (BCRR) Director Emerson G. Cuyo encouraged political candidates and parties to contact the IPOPHL’s accredited collective management organizations (CMOs) to secure the right licenses that will be used in their promotional materials.
CMOs, such as the Filipino Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, Inc. (FILSCAP), Philippines Recorded Music Rights Inc. (PRM), Independent Music Producers of the Philippines (IMPRO) and Sounds Recording Rights Society, Inc. (SRRS), could help facilitate negotiations and licensing arrangements, the IPOPHL said.
Cuyo also encouraged music artists to join the IPOPHL’s second Philippine-International Copyright Summit (PICS) which is happening from October 21 to 25 so they can learn the importance of safeguarding their music and compositions in today’s digital landscape.
“There will be sessions specifically designed to empower composers and music artists. We want them to learn the local and global music trends, the legal frameworks that protect their IP rights and the first-hand experiences of artists with copyright protection. We will also feature industry leaders discussing the implications of generative artificial intelligence on creative works,” Cuyo said.
