Intellectual property rights violations spiked amid pandemic in 2020, House told

A total of 190 reports and complaints about intellectual property rights violations have been recorded in 2020, according to an official from the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines on Thursday.

This was disclosed during the House Special Committee on Creative Industry and Performing Arts hearing about online piracy.

IPOPHL Director III Ann Edillon disclosed that the number was an increase from the 146 reports and complaints lodged from 2013 to 2016.

Edillon said the increase could be attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic. She said the IPOPHL had received an average of 17 reports and complaints last year on a monthly basis.

"We attribute this partially of course to the fact nga na because of COVID, everything has gone online," she said.

Edillon said 64.5% of the reports received were pirated and counterfeit goods-related matter.

When it comes to piracy reports on shows and movies, a total of 21, which include 11 foreign and ten local shows and movies, have been recorded by the office.

"All 21 counts were referred to the respective producers and/or IP rights holders," Edillon said.

Two of the ten Filipino shows and movies were related to the Metro Manila Film Festival, according to Edillon.

Recently, an investigation was sought at the House of Representatives over the alleged piracy that occurred during the last film festival.

Edillon, meanwhile, bared that 19 of those involved in the 21 reports were Filipinos.

"We found out that 19 of the 21 were actually Filipino pirates also. Sila, mga kababayan din po natin, ang nagooffer ng pirated na Filipino movies... sometimes for as low as P5," she said.

"I think the average is P5 to P15 per file and it's distributed either they're giving a link [of] google site or cloud site then download it," Edillon said. -NB, GMA News