NBI backs drive vs book piracy

The National Bureau of Investigation has vowed to fully support the campaign launched by the academe, student groups, and publishers to combat content piracy in the country.

This, as the intellectual property law enforcement group, student academic groups, and publishers signed a statement of cooperation against piracy.

The signing of the statement of cooperation was held during the Rex Education-hosted press conference last 17 January at the Manila Hotel that brought together key organizations committed to educating people about piracy and stopping illegal reproduction and distribution of copyrighted content.

Jesus Manapat, NBI head agent, said that the bureau has conducted numerous raids resulting in the recovery of fake products and the apprehension of those responsible for it, and the filing of charges before the courts.

“We have conducted numerous raids resulting in the apprehension and confiscation of fake products that violated property rights,” said Manapat, adding they are striving hard to arrest those behind it.

Piracy is defined as the unauthorized reproduction and distribution of copyrighted content, including but not limited to books, movies, music, and the like.

In the Philippines, anti-piracy legislation is strengthened by RA 8293 or the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines which protects and secures the exclusive rights of scientists, inventors, artists, and other gifted citizens to their intellectual property and creations.

The event was a part of Rex’s anti-piracy campaign which was launched last 16 September at the Manila International Book Fair.

It was learned that the primary objective of the campaign is to curb, if not eradicate, content piracy by educating, communicating, and instilling among colleagues, families, and children a true appreciation of the value of one’s work.

Atty. Dominador Buhain, chairman of Rex Education, said there should be a continuation of the move to educate, communicate, and instill the value of one’s work.

“In this sense, we are all duty-bearers, but above that, we are Filipinos. Aside from our laws, what also binds us are our values, our sense of pakikipagkapwa (interaction), of pagpapakatao (humanization), our pride in our own work, and our respect for each other and each other’s work,” Buhain said.