Election in the Philippines Respect IP Laws And Request Permission From Copyright Holders
18 February 2022
With the upcoming presidential elections in May 2022, the Philippines is reminding all candidates and political parties to observe the IP Laws, which can be in relation to their campaigns.
"The election period is a great time for candidates to help artists recover from the pandemic-induced economic downturn," said Director General Rowel S. Barba, citing the widespread use of copyrighted works — such as photos, audiovisual, content, and songs, among others — for political advertisements and promotional materials. "I hope candidates adequately reward our artists for their services in helping us create more successful and innovative campaign messaging."
However, according to the IPOPHL director, applicants must always get the permission of IP right holders before exploiting their works before making any payment.
"Even if candidates are ready to pay a hefty charge, they must first obtain permission from copyright holders to use their works in political advertisements, and respect their choice if their bids are rejected because they refuse to associate with a certain political party," Barba added.
While campaign jingles had been the most common source of infringement complaints in previous election cycles, Barba stated that the agency will keep its eyes out for potential instances and conflicts concerning new marketing trends in the 2022 elections.
The IPOPHL president also stated that, with social media increasingly serving as a battleground for political marketing, the organization is keeping a careful eye on developments.
He advised enraged artists to keep a careful eye on political campaigns and use social media platforms' procedures to protect their intellectual property rights, whether by asking a fee or a takedown of illegal works.
Barba cautioned that, given the public's increased awareness of intellectual property and copyright, candidates should guarantee that they use others' work ethically.
"If candidates want to prevent criticism and a drop in support, they must be aware about how they utilize copyrighted works, and encourage their followers to do the same when preparing materials for their web advertising or self-organized demonstrations," Barba added.
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