Government tightening AI use in creative works

MANILA, Philippines — Music, photos and films partially generated through artificial intelligence may soon be protected under the copyright law as the government plans to issue clear guidelines on the use of AI in the creative industry.

Under the prevailing guidelines, the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) requires copyright applicants to disclose whether the content was made by a machine or a person.

“We do not register those made by machines, and we also require disclosure of how much percentage was made by AI,” IPOPHL director general Rowel Barba said during the 2024 Philippine International Copyright Summit.

Barba said the IPOPHL is hoping to come up with clear guidelines on AI use after meeting with different sectors in the copyright industry and getting the views of the stakeholders, particularly the artists.

The IP regulator, he said, still has no exact answers as to whether AI can be protected with copyright or whether credit should be given to the software and developers for the content made with the help of AI.

As such, the IPOPHL is looking to finalize recommendations that could be integrated with the AI roadmap of the Department of Trade and Industry in hopes of issuing unified rules and guidelines on the use of the technology.

“We are hopeful that the Philippine government will be able to come up with one AI regulation. It appears that the different government agencies are doing their own, but hopefully we will be able to integrate and consolidate all of those guidelines,” Barba said.

Trade Secretary Cristina Aldeguer-Roque underscored that copyright, IP and trademarks are crucial in any business despite being often neglected by small enterprises.

Citing a study by the Asia Video Industry Association, Roque said 70 percent of Filipinos consume pirated content through online streaming.

This is higher than the 58 percent recorded in 2023, making the Philippines the second in Southeast Asia with the highest piracy consumption.

“A large part of this increase is attributed to the rising piracy in social media and messaging platforms,” the secretary said.

Roque said the government aims to collaborate closely with these platforms to “hold accountable those who continue to foster a culture of piracy.”

“Ultimately, by fostering collaboration and championing creativity and aligning with this administration, we can cultivate a future that showcases the depth of Filipino artistry and innovation, securing our position as a dynamic leader in the creative economy,” she added.