Approval of IP policies to help curtail piracy

CEBU, Philippines - The Business Software Alliance is foreseeing software piracy rates to decrease in the coming years if the “special rules” for hearing of intellectual property cases be approved within this year or early next year.

This was shared by BSA consultant for the Philippines Bienvenido Marquez III who said during a phone interview with The Freeman that recent numbers of piracy rates for software are up at 69 percent. This is practically the same percentage in 2007, but Marquez said that they hope to see the numbers go down.

Marquez explained that they are supporting the special rules proposed by Supreme Court Chief Justice Reynato Puno and the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines that would help in the hearing of IP cases.

According to Marquez, the special rules were proposed last year and BSA too have submitted their proposal to IPOP on the matter. 

He said that this would encourage stakeholders and software investors to pursue cases against those pirating their products since they would know that they would not be given a hard time finding justice for their IP rights.

According to Marquez, most investors do not pursue to file cases anymore since they believe that it would take a long time and there are delaying tactics being done by those against the fight of IP rights.

He said that usually confiscated pirated products are just being destroyed by the owners but he said that this does not stop further piracy of software. “Mas maganda kung may ma-convict, di ba?” he added.

Marquez said that this greatly affects the software industry since new stakeholders and investors also think twice on investing in the industry since the Philippines has been noted to have one of the highest piracy rates in the world compared to neighboring Asian countries such as Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong.

He said that although the Pilipinas Anti-Piracy Team is doing a good job in finding those involved in this illegal act, the prosecution of the cases in courts should also be strengthened.

Marquez also said that if the special rules would be approved, then not only they would be happy about it, but also other industries with Intellectual Properties would benefit from this like the music and apparel industry.

“Yung mga industriya na pini-peke yung produkto nila, makakabenefit sila dito,” Marquez said.