The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) has partnered with the Japan-based Content Overseas Distribution Association (CODA) to fight content piracy.
Under the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), IPOPHL and CODA will provide protection for Filipino and Japanese copyrighted works in their respective jurisdictions.
Such a mechanism will cover streamlining the exchange of information, research, data and trends that will improve law enforcement in both countries.
“This MoU will be a game-changer in our fight against piracy, an issue we need to address urgently amid increased intellectual property infringements during the pandemic,” said IPOPHL’s Chief Executive, Rowel Barba.
IPOPHL and CODA will also coordinate online piracy prevention, monitoring, ongoing takedown and site blocking.
The two offices have also agreed to engage in policy development consultations aimed at their common goal of instilling deeper respect for intellectual property in society.
In addition, IPOPHL and CODA will strive to support each other in their awareness and education campaigns for better protection of copyrighted works.
Barba emphasized that with increasing digitalization and globalization, cross-border strategies will be key to creating an enforcement environment that meets the current needs of intellectual property owners, supporting the international growth trajectory of creative economies in the world. whole world.
“Cross-border collaboration can help move the wheels of creativity forward and open up greater international opportunities for the Filipino creative industry, which has suffered massive job losses in this pandemic,” he added.
In the first pandemic year alone, 2020 saw a record 31 piracy complaints and reports filed with IPOPHL’s Intellectual Property Enforcement Office (IEO).
According to data from piracy analysis firm MUSO, among the top piracy sites in the Philippines were those that offered Japanese anime shows and movies for download.
For his part, CODA’s Senior Executive Director, Takero Goto, recognized IPOPHL for its “long-term contribution and achievements in the protection and promotion of IP”.
“You have been the leader, playing a vital role, in ASEAN by presiding over ANIEE [Asean Network of IP Enforcement Experts] since its foundations,” Goto said.
Goto also thanked IPOPHL for helping CODA in its ongoing work to establish the International Anti-Piracy Organization, which will be a coalition of over 30 companies dedicated to curbing the illegal online distribution of anime. manga and other similar copyrighted content.
Founded in 2002 as a voluntary organization, CODA is a platform through which content creators and copyright-related organizations cooperate to reduce piracy around the world and to actively promote the international distribution of Japanese content. , such as music, movies, animation, TV programs. and video games.
