Globe Applauds Advancement of Senate Bill for Site Blocking

Globe expresses its appreciation for the significant progress in the Senate regarding bills aimed at fortifying the country’s 26-year-old Intellectual Property Code (IPC) and battling online content piracy through site-blocking measures. #PlayItRight

A Senate committee level hearing concluded on April 29, setting the stage for a Technical Working Group to assemble and begin working on the proposal’s specifics.

This advancement signifies a considerable leap forward in Globe’s enduring #PlayItRight advocacy, which aims to promote and safeguard the country’s P1.6-trillion creative industry from the detrimental effects of piracy.

“We commend the Senate for acknowledging the need to update the Intellectual Property Code to tackle the widespread instances of online piracy,” stated Yoly Crisanto, Chief Sustainability and Corporate Communications Officer at Globe. “Site blocking is a crucial weapon in the battle against piracy, not only safeguarding the livelihood of content creators but also protecting consumers from risks linked to accessing pirated content online.”

Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., both experienced actors familiar with the challenges posed by film piracy, previously submitted legislative proposals to address online piracy.

Estrada’s Senate Bill 2150, submitted on May 9, 2023, aims to limit access to websites that promote copyright violations, proposing penalties of up to PHP1 million for such violations.

Conversely, Revilla’s Senate Bill No. 2385, submitted on August 1, 2023, concentrates on broadening the authority and responsibilities of the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL), particularly in initiating site-blocking measures.

Both initiatives are a parallel measure to House Bill No. 7600 by Rep. Joey Salceda of Albay’s 2nd District, which was passed on third reading in the House of Representatives a year ago.

The institutionalization of site-blocking is urgent as content piracy remains widespread, jeopardizing the livelihood of workers in the creative industry and exposing users to the risk of fraud and other forms of cybercrime.

At last week’s hearing, the committee was presented with executive summaries from surveys conducted by YouGov on behalf of the Asia Video Industry Association’s (AVIA) Coalition Against Piracy (CAP) demonstrating the pervasiveness of piracy in the Philippines and its adverse impact.

A separate study had earlier shown that piracy undermines the creative industry and its potential contribution to the country’s economy. In 2022, it accounted for 7.3% of the Philippines’ GDP.

AVIA/CAP’s 2024 survey revealed that the number of Filipinos who consume pirated content rose to 70% as of February this year, an increase from 58% in 2023.

The survey also disclosed that Filipino consumers overwhelmingly believe online content piracy has negative consequences for the Philippines economy (92% of respondents). A large majority also expressed a willingness to pay for legitimate content if not available on pirated platforms: 75% majority said they would “pay in some form” for legitimate streaming sites, while 37% would watch ad supported or free to air media. Only 16% said they would not pay to watch online content.

Globe acknowledges the critical need to modernize the Intellectual Property Code, especially in light of increasing online threats. Amending the Code will institutionalize the landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) IPOPHL recently signed with Globe and other leading Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to establish a site-blocking mechanism against pirate sites.

The MOU, the first of its kind in Asia, outlines the general principles and procedures for site blocking and emphasizes the collaboration between IPOPHL and ISPs to combat the unauthorized distribution and sale of pirated content over the internet.

As a member of the Video Coalition of the Philippines and a staunch advocate for robust intellectual property rights, Globe has been at the forefront of the fight against online piracy. It looks forward to continued collaboration with all stakeholders to foster a thriving creative ecosystem in the Philippines.

FAQs

1. What is Globe’s stance on online piracy? Globe recognizes the critical need to modernize the Intellectual Property Code, especially in light of increasing online threats. They believe that site blocking is a crucial weapon in the battle against piracy.

2. What is the purpose of the Senate Bills filed by Senators Estrada and Revilla? Estrada’s Senate Bill 2150 aims to limit access to websites that promote copyright violations, while Revilla’s Senate Bill No. 2385 concentrates on broadening the authority and responsibilities of the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL), particularly in initiating site-blocking measures.

3. What is the impact of piracy on the Philippines’ economy? A separate study had earlier shown that piracy undermines the creative industry and its potential contribution to the country’s economy. In 2022, it accounted for 7.3% of the Philippines’ GDP.

4. What is the public opinion on online content piracy in the Philippines? AVIA/CAP’s 2024 survey revealed that Filipino consumers overwhelmingly believe online content piracy has negative consequences for the Philippines economy. A large majority also expressed a willingness to pay for legitimate content if not available on pirated platforms.

5. What is Globe’s #PlayItRight advocacy? Globe’s enduring #PlayItRight advocacy aims to promote and safeguard the country’s P1.6-trillion creative industry from the detrimental effects of piracy.