Japanese organization tapped to combat piracy

MANILA, Philippines — The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) has partnered with Japanese organization Content Overseas Distribution Association (CODA) to combat piracy.

In a statement the IPOPHL said it signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with CODA, an organization which seeks to counter content piracy.

Under the MOU, IPOPHL and CODA will come up with a mechanism to ensure copyrighted Philippine and Japanese works are protected in their respective jurisdictions.

This will involve streamlining the exchange of information, research work, data and trends that will enhance enforcement in both countries.

Both parties will also share best practices on prevention, online piracy monitoring and rolling takedown and site-blocking.

As part of the partnership, the IPOPHL and CODA will participate in consultations for the development of policies for promoting respect for IP.

Moreover, the parties will support each other’s awareness and education campaigns to promote the protection of copyrighted works.

“This MOU will be a game-changer in our fight against piracy, a matter we must urgently address amid heightened IP violations during the pandemic,” IPOPHL director general Rowel Barba said.

In 2020 or the first year of the pandemic, a record number of 31 piracy complaints and reports were filed at IPOPHL’s IP Rights Enforcement Office.

Citing data from piracy analytics firm MUSO, IPOPHL said top piracy sites in the Philippines offered Japanese anime shows and movies for downloading.

With increased digitalization and globalization, Barba said cross-border strategies would be vital in creating an enforcement environment that responds to the needs of IP owners and support the growth of creative economies around the world.

“Cross-border collaboration can help keep the wheels of creativity moving forward and help open greater international opportunities to the Philippine creative industry, which suffered massive job losses in this pandemic,” he said.

IPOPHL deputy director general Teodoro Pascua said IPOPHL is committed to forge partnerships and collaborations with other organizations overseas to create greater impact.

For his part, CODA senior executive director Takero Goto lauded IPOPHL for the agency’s efforts on IP promotion and protection.

“You have been the leader, playing an integral part, in the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) by chairing the ANIEE (ASEAN Network of IP Enforcement Experts) from its foundations,” Goto said.

Goto also cited IPOPHL’s assistance to CODA in the ongoing work to establish the International Anti-Piracy Organization to be composed of over 30 companies committed to curb the illegal online distribution of anime, manga and other similar copyrighted content.