What to expect in the 1st Philippine Copyright Summit
10 June 2021
The 1st Philippine International Copyright Summit (PICS), hosted by the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) will be held on the week of November 22, 2021. It will bring together 50 local and international speakers to discuss the latest trends and challenges in copyright regulations and enforcement, including curbing infringement in the country and assisting creators in gaining greater control over their copyright and related rights.
The weeklong event, titled "United in Copyright," will bring together representatives from the creative economy, groups, and relevant government organizations to educate the general public on the importance of copyright to the struggling industry.
In a virtual conference, IPOPHL Director General Rowel S. Barba, said, “Scaling up copyright appreciation in the country is really important right now, considering that the creative sector was the worst damaged by the pandemic's quarantine."
According to a joint survey conducted by the World Bank, the National Economic Development Authority, and the Department of Finance in July 2020 to assess the effects of COVID-19 on Philippine businesses, the arts, entertainment, and recreation sector saw the most business closures (82%) –– with 61 percent closing temporarily and 21 percent permanently due to the increased community quarantine.
The PICS is especially appropriate this year since the United Nations has designated 2021 as the International Year of the Creative Economy, “a year for recovery and rebuilding stronger, with more inclusivity,” according to IPOPHL Deputy Director General (DDG) Nelson P. Laluces.
“Through this PICS, we seek to empower more artists to better secure their works while negotiating licensing agreements and exporting their works, particularly as we strive for global competitiveness. Finally, we hope that the summit will result in exceptional success stories that demonstrate how unique or copyrightable works are the foundation of a thriving creative industry,” Laluces said.
The summit will feature a variety of activities, including dialogues, business matching, online art exhibits, film and animation festivals, book fairs and launches, cultural presentations, and concerts, according to Emerson G. Cuyo, director of IPOPHL's Bureau of Copyright and Related Rights (BCCR), the event's lead organizer.
“The events will not take place solely in November. We've planned events leading up to the summit to help publicize the historic event,” Cuyo stated.
The hybrid event will take place from November 22 to November 26, 2021. IPOPHL will disclose more information on the initiative in the coming weeks.
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