GMA Network joins global antipiracy group

GMA Network has joined the global Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE) group in a bid to strengthen its initiatives against digital piracy, which costs the creative economy substantially in terms of forgone revenues.

In a statement on Tuesday, the media group said it recently inked the partnership with the antipiracy coalition which currently has more than 50 global members, with GMA being the first from the Philippines.

“Piracy continues to be one of the biggest problems in the entertainment industry globally,” GMA Network chair and CEO Felipe Gozon said.

He stressed that “the duplication and illegal distribution of movies, ‘teleseryes,’ music and other materials invalidate the hard work of those behind it.”

“GMA Network, through various initiatives on different platforms, is consistently taking the necessary steps to combat the illegal distribution of our shows, movies, music and other materials,” he added.

ACE head Jan van Voorn, meanwhile, said they were looking forward to working with GMA in addressing piracy and protecting content creators.

“ACE is building a strong global network of media companies and partners who are working together to eradicate the serious threat piracy poses to the creative economy,” he added.

Recently, GMA and rival ABS-CBN Corp. announced their partnership to coproduce a television series eyed to be launched this year. The romantic-drama series will air on GMA and stream in 15 international territories via Viu video streaming.

GMA Ventures also teamed up with US-based venture capital firm Wavemaker 360.

—Tyrone Jasper C. Piad INQ