Performers’ group seeks collection authority

MANILA, Philippines - The Performers Rights Society of the Philippines (PRSP) is seeking accreditation as a collective management organization (CMO) with the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) to collect talent fees on behalf of performers used in commercial broadcast. 

In a notice posted on its website dated September 10, the IPOPHL said it has received PRSP’s letter of application for CMO accreditation.

The PRSP acts as the collecting society of performers such as actors, musician and dancers whose works are used for commercial broadcast.

The group is composed of the following member guilds and organizations: Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Mangaawit (Organization of Filipino Singers), Katipunan ng mga Artista sa Pelikulang Pilipino at Telebisyon (Film and Television Actors’ Guild), Asosasyon ng Musikong Pilipino (Filipino Musicians’ Association), Philippine Legitimate Stage Artists Group Inc. and Film Academy of the Philippines.

Through its accreditation as CMO, the group will enable performers to enforce their right to be paid for the use of their works.

Under Republic Act 10372 which amended the Intellectual Property Code and was signed by President Aquino in February last year, the IPOPHL can set-up the Bureau of Copyright, which will be responsible for the accreditation of the CMOs.

Earlier, the IPOPHL said the Filipino Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers Inc. has secured CMO accreditation. 

The IPOPHL said interested parties may submit their position on PRSP’s application.

“Any interested party may submit written observations thereon to the Bureau of Copyright and Other Related Rights within 30 days from publication,” it said. 

The IPOPHL wants to increase the public’s awareness on protection of intellectual property rights as well as improve the enforcement of such in order to keep the country out of the Office of the US Trade Representative’s (USTR) list of countries tagged with intellectual property problems.

In April, the Philippines was removed from the USTR’s Special 301 report Watch List amid legislative and regulatory reforms to enhance the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights here.

The Philippines has been continuously placed either in the Priority Watch List or Watch List since 1994.