Palace exec: PNoy still studying amendments to Intellectual Property Code

Published February 15, 2013 4:48pm

A Malacañang spokesperson assured the public on Friday that President Benigno Aquino III is closely studying the proposed measure to amend parts of the Intellectual Property Code (IPC), which, according to investigative journalist Raissa Robles, is a presidential signature away from becoming a law. “Natanggap po natin ‘yan noong January 29 at ‘yung mga amendment po sa batas ay nire-review pa ng Office of the President,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said at a press briefing.

According to Robles, the amendment to Republic Act 8293 or the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines threatens to strip Filipinos of the right to bring home copyrighted music, movies, and books from abroad.

But Valte stressed that the President is aware of the contentions that have been expressed against the proposed law.

“Nakita po namin ‘yung position paper nung ibang mga grupo at pinadala na po namin ito sa Office of the President para ma-consider po habang nirerepaso po ‘yung panukalang batas,” Valte said, adding that the OPS is studying position papers passed contesting issues regarding jailbreaking, downloading of uploaded content, and bringing in of books or DVD’s from abroad.

“Those three are precisely the ones that we have given to the Office of the President, to the team that is reviewing it, to see kung ano po ba ‘yung basehan nung mga objection na ito.,” Valte added.

According to the 1987 Constitution, a President has 30 days after the transmission of a proposed law to either sign or veto it, otherwise the bill lapses into law. — Patricia Denise Chiu/RSJ, GMA News

Tags: noynoyaquino, intellectualpropertycode, intellectualproperty, intellectualpropertyact, intellectualpropertylaw