Group prods senators: Act on bills that will amend IP Code

An advocacy group prodded senators to act on two measures which seek to amend the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines, saying existing laws remain helpless against online piracy.

«Cyber criminals like digital hackers have relentlessly exploited the vulnerabilities of our outdated IPC which resulted in losses of much needed government revenues,» said Pet Climaco, secretary general of Bantay Konsyumer, Kalsada, Kuryente (BKKK).

The BKKK leader was referring to Senate Bills 2150 and 2385 filed by Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon «Bong» Revilla, respectively.

These bills have not been acted upon in the Senate after the change of committee chairmanships when the new chamber's leadership took over a few months back.

Senator Mark Villar previously chaired the Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship, and led the public hearings of Senate Bills 2150 and 2385.

The committee is now chaired by Senator Alan Peter Cayetano.

«These bills on intellectual property are crucial. Senator Chiz [Escudero] will understand, he is a lawyer. Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano is also a lawyer. Piracy is stealing, this has to be given priority,» Climaco said.

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«We may lose the trust of other countries if we cannot come up with a strong intellectual property law,» he added.

The two bills gained backing from the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL), the private sector, and celebrities as the amendment of the IPC will address issues on online piracy.

IPOPHL said that the country lost $781 million in 2022 to online piracy and if the problem remains unaddressed, the revenue loss will increase up to $1 billion. It noted that there was a drastic decline in the incidence of piracy in countries where site blocking was implemented.

The Department of Trade and Industry expressed support for the amendment of the IPC, saying «the country needs to have a strong law on intellectual property to protect intellectual property owners against piracy and counterfeiting.»

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The Department of Information and Communications Technology earlier urged the senators to pass the said bills «amid the evolving technological complexities in cybercrimes» as the IP