Demand for PH copyright protection at all-time high

MANILA, Philippines  —Copyright registrations in the Philippines soared by 76 percent last year, hitting a record-high volume, with filings for written works comprising more than half of the total.

The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) on Wednesday said it had recorded 6,522 copyright registrations at its office in 2023, higher than the annual turnout for each year dating back to as far as 2017.

IPOPHL Director General Rowel Barba described the year’s copyright numbers as “historic,” adding that it was the result of the efforts of his agency to increase awareness and help people understand the importance of safeguarding their intellectual property (IP).

“Although copyright protection is provided automatically upon creation, registration certificates provide an added layer of protection to copyrighted works,” Barba said.

READ: IP registrations exceed pre-pandemic levels, says IPOPHL

According to the IPOPHL’s records, copyright registrations totaled 3,706 in 2022, 2,086 in 2021 and 940 in 2020.

The latest numbers eclipsed even the levels seen before the pandemic. Registrations stood at 1,862 in 2019, 1,268 in 2018 and 983 in 2017.

In 2023, the IPOPHL said that registration for books, pamphlets, articles, e-books, audio books, comics, novels and other writings category accounted for 52.5 percent of total copyright filings.

Audiovisual and cinematographic works followed with 18.1 percent, while filings for computer programs, software, games and applications accounted for 8.8 percent.

Musical compositions

Meanwhile, filings for musical compositions, with or without lyrics, took up 6.1 percent. Drawings, paintings, architectural works, sculpture, engraving, prints, lithography or other works of art, models or designs for works of art had a share of 4.9 percent.

Rounding up the top six in the IPOPHL’s records are registrations for ornamental designs, also known as models for articles of manufacture and industrial objects, and other works of applied art, which took up 3.2 percent.

READ: Copyright & AI generated work

Bureau of Copyright and Related Rights director Emerson Cuyo vowed to intensify efforts to bridge copyright learning in the Philippines through various roadshows.

He is also encouraging creatives to utilize the IP system of the government, noting the ease of online copyright registration.

“In just a few clicks and just a few days, you can safeguard your works and navigate the future with greater confidence over the ownership of your works. Make the wise decision of registering today rather than regretting not having given your works enough protection,” said Cuyo.