CitizenWatch calls on Senate to expedite passage of anti-online piracy bills

Advocacy group CitizenWatch, on Wednesday, called on the Senate to expedite the process on passing and implementing anti-online piracy legislation.

“The Intellectual Property Code (IPC) in its current form does not include electronic and online content in its definition of pirated goods. Two bills now pending at the Senate seek to enable the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) to swiftly block sites carrying pirated content. These proposals are also being pushed by the Private Sector Advisory Council,” their statement read.

CitizenWatch said the House version was already approved in May 2023.

"It’s high time the Senate acted on this urgent matter.  We have already lost so many years allowing these high-tech thieves, but thieves, nonetheless, get away with profiting from what isn’t theirs," the group said.

Previously, thinktank Stratbase ADR Institute also expressed its support for a review and amendment of the Intellectual Property Code to counter the increasing incidents of online piracy in the country.

Concerned agencies such as the IPOPHL, the Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT), as well as internet service providers have echoed the same sentiments of support for more aggressive campaigns against online piracy.

In a study last April, the IPOPHL also revealed the Philippines in 2022 has lost $781 million in revenue due to online piracy.

Losses are estimated to reach up to $1 billion, excluding taxes, by 2027.

“We are supposed to be encouraging original content production, not discouraging it. But how are we going to do that if online thieves can just go about stealing their hard work with ease – getting away with it, and even flaunting it? Our lawmakers need to show that they are not indifferent to this menace. The time to act was yesterday, but it won’t hurt to start catching up now,” added CitizenWatch.—Jiselle Anne Casucian/RF, GMA Integrated News