House TWG sets January hearing on Online Copyright Infringement Bill

A technical working group at the House of Representatives is set to start this January its hearing on the measure seeking to cancel the licences of internet service providers that allow websites to infringe on copyright.

In a statement, KABAYAN party-list Representative Ron Salo, one of the authors of House Bill 8001 or the Online Copyright Infringement Bill, pointed out that the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) should be authorized to disable access to websites being used to infringe on or facilitate infringement of copyrights.

"House Bill 8001 lays down the necessary legal framework, which will facilitate the proper coordination and support between the IPO and the NTC (National Telecommunications Commission), in restricting access to websites that are being used to facilitate copyright violations," Salo said.

The House Committees on Information and Communications Technology, and Trade and Industry have agreed to a form a technical working group to deliberate on the provisions of the measure.

Salo himself will chair the technical working group.

According to Salo, several sites used for illegal distribution of copyrighted materials operate outside the Philippines. Because these websites are out of the Philippine government's jurisdiction, it is only proper that the access to these websites be prevented, he said.

"With the advent of cyberspace, copyright infringement has taken a new form which is beyond the reach of the country’s administrative and regulatory agencies such as the NTC and IPO," the party-list congressman said.

"Copyright infringement is no longer confined to the conventional or traditional ways of IPR violations. Cyberspace has been used to evade liability and regulation," he added.

Once the measure is enacted, Filipino musicians, filmmakers and content providers would be protected from the unauthorized use of their works, Salon said. —KBK, GMA News