DICT prods Congress to pass bills that will strengthen IP code

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has called on Congress to pass an amended Intellectual Property Code that would include provisions against high-tech online piracy.

DICT spokesman Renato Paraiso said that an amended IPC is needed as a strong defense to repel digital theft «amid evolving technological complexities of cyber crimes.»

Paraiso was referring to at least two Senate bills and a measure passed at the House of Representatives that would strengthen the power of the IPC.

The two bills pending are Senate Bill 2150 authored by Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, which aims to strengthen the powers and functions of the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines to combat online piracy, and SB 2385 authored by Sen. Ramon «Bong» Revilla Jr.

Its House counterpart bill, House Bill 7600 authored principally by Albay Rep. Jose Ma. Clemente Salceda, was approved on third and final reading and is also pending at the Senate.

The three bills seek to broaden the powers of the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) to better adapt to advancements in technology and address the chronic issue on cyber crimes such as digital piracy.

Paraiso said that the instruction of DICT Secretary Ivan John Uy to the agency's technical and legal teams was clear: Extend the support to the committees working on the immediate revision of the IP code.

Paraiso said that revising the IPC with provisions that confront the emerging cutting-edge technology being adopted by cyber criminals should be the first approach to effectively end online piracy.

The National Telecommunications Commission, the IPOPHL and internet service providers collaborated to protect Filipino artists against possible copyright infringement.

The Philippine Statistics Authority had said that digital content theft is taking away at least 7.1 percent of the country's gross domestic product and threatens to inflict malware on web devices that consume pirated content.