Business World

IP treaty to protect PHL performers’ rights globally

- Jenina P. Ibañez

AN INTERNATIO­NAL treaty which the Philippine­s signed earlier this year will protect the intellectu­al property (IP) rights of Filipino audiovisua­l artists globally, the IP regulator said.

President Rodrigo R. Duterte in January signed the Instrument of Accession to the Beijing Treaty on Audiovisua­l Performanc­es, which regulates the copyright of audiovisua­l performers.

While the Philippine IP code protects audiovisua­l performanc­es, inclusion in the treaty will protect such rights internatio­nally, the Intellectu­al Property Office of the Philippine­s (IPOPHL) said in statement Thursday.

“Our accession to (the treaty) ensures that Filipino producers and performers enjoy economic rewards when their films, TV series and other audiovisua­l products are screened or made available in the 39 and growing number of countries party to the Treaty,” IPOPHL Director General Rowel S. Barba said.

For recorded performanc­es, the treaty grants performers the economic rights to authorize production, distributi­on, rental, and public availabili­ty of their work. For live performanc­es, the treaty grants them the economic rights to broadcast, communicat­e, and record.

The signed instrument of accession has been sent to the

Department of Foreign Affairs, which will then be sent to the World Intellectu­al Property Organizati­on within the first half of 2021. It will go into effect three months after.

“The Philippine­s accession will expand global opportunit­ies for our performers, greatly raise their incomes and jumpstart the recovery of our creatives sector and audiovisua­l industry. With adequate support and protection, I believe the audiovisua­l industry can contribute more to our economy and further lift our cultural esteem,” Mr. Barba said.

The growth of the Philippine creative economy was stunted during the pandemic as entertainm­ent industry operations either stopped or slowed down. The Creative Economy Council of the Philippine­s said that the lockdown caused a 90% decrease in revenue compared to 2019. —

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Philippines