As the campaign period for the 12 May elections nears, the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) and the Commission on Elections (Comelec) entered into a memorandum of agreement (MoA) to strengthen their commitment in ensuring that candidates comply with intellectual property (IP) laws.
The MoA, sealed between IPOPHL Deputy Director General for Policy, Legal Affairs and External Relations Nathaniel Arevalo and Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia last 24 January, serves to build on the partnership by defining the activities and their implementation.
“This agreement will allow us to work together more effectively in educating candidates and their teams about the importance of respecting IP rights. It will also streamline reporting mechanisms and enforcement efforts, ensuring that violations are addressed promptly and fairly,” Arevalo said.
To recall, IPOPHL and Comelec also signed a Memorandum of Understanding during the Philippine International Copyright Summit in October 2024 to declare their commitment to ensuring that candidates respect IP rights in developing campaign materials.
The MoA mandates that both agencies agree to establish a mechanism for violation reports and actions, as well as monitoring and enforcement through a joint technical working group with the inclusion of the Bureau of Copyright and Related Rights, Bureau of Legal Affairs and IP Rights Enforcement Office from the IPOPHL side.
For his part, Comelec chair Garcia likened copyright infringement to creating a song for loved ones only to be stolen by others for personal gain.
“You made it, you gave it to a loved one, and then someone just steals it to flatter the voters. Shouldn’t campaigning not be a justification to steal someone else’s creation?” Garcia said, underscoring the need to be vigilant of candidates who infringe on the works of artists.
“If the ordinary song, created by Filipino talents, is stolen, how much more will the public funds be once they are seated? This is what we want to emphasize on why we are partnering with IPOPHL. We want to protect Filipino creations,” Garcia added.
Through the MoA, Comelec pledges to integrate IP protection guidelines into election-related rules and regulations and disseminate educational materials on IP rights.