Local artists seek gov’t OK to collect royalties

SCREENGRAB from www.philmusicregistry.net

The Performers’ Rights Society of the Philippines (PRSP) is seeking government accreditation so it can collect royalties for the commercial or public use of its members’ copyrighted materials, a move that is seen as promoting performers’ ability to enforce their intellectual property rights over recorded works.

The PRSP wants in particular to be accredited as a collective management organization (CMO) by the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL), to which the group submitted its application Friday.

“It is important because intellectual property rights of performers can be protected in a more organized way. With protection, many performers will be creative and this will result in more economic development,” said IPOPHL director general Ricardo R. Blancaflor in a text message.

Republic Act 10372, which amended certain provisions of the Intellectual Property Code, provides for a CMO to collect, in behalf of all the artists, performers, dancers, musicians, composers, authors and publishers, the corresponding royalties for the public or commercial use of local and foreign copyrighted materials across various industries.

CMOs are to be regulated by a state agency, the Bureau of Copyright, which will be operational by this year and which is seen to protect Filipino artists from copyright infringement and rightfully compensate them for their works or performances. The agency is also seen to help raise awareness about the importance of respecting intellectual property.

The PRSP, led by prominent artists like Leo Martinez, Mitch Valdes and John Lesaca, is already recognized by the World Intellectual Property Organization (Wipo).  Amy R. Remo