The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IP Philippines) and National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) have formalized their official partnership in promoting and protecting Intellectual Property Rights in the broadcast industry by signing a Memorandum of Agreement.

The MOA covering joint cooperation in the enforcement and protection of IPR in radio, Television and cable, was signed by Director General Adrian S. Cristobal Jr. in behalf of IP Philippines and Commissioner Ronald O. Solis, representing the NTC, at 11: a.m. Friday at the Multi-Purpose Room of the IP Philippines on 351 Senator Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati City.

The agreement puts into action the desire of the two agencies to jointly work in addressing piracy in the pay television industry, which industry leaders said has been adversely affecting the climate of business and trade in the country, while ensuring the efficient and maximum regulation of CATV and the entire broadcasting industry.

In his speech, Cristobal said that the agreement represent a milestone in the government’s effort to use IP in national development as he recognized the potential of the rapidly growing industry for job generation.

On the other hand, Solis said that the agreement is an embodiment of the IP Philippines and NTC’s joint effort in addressing the concerns of the cable industry on piracy.

The Philippine Cable TV Association said that the industry’s losses on piracy amounts to roughly P7 billion annually as it added that about 1.5 million cable subscribers are illegally connected.

Both the IP Philippines and the NTC recognizes that there is a need to come up with an administrative mechanism to effectively and expeditiously resolve cases involving piracy and copyright infringement.

As set out by the Agreement, the IP Philippines shall adjudicate or resolve cases involving any IPR infringement that the NTC will endorse to the former. The NTC is required to forward any IP case to the IP Philippines within five working days upon its receipt of the complaint.

The NTC is also required to forward to its counterpart cases involving infringements that are currently pending within its office, five days upon the effectivity of the MOA.

On the other hand, the IP Philippines is also obligated to inform the NTC of any determination or resolution on a case that it has received from the telecommunications body in order for the NTC to implement the action.

Under the Agreement, both offices also agreed to strengthen cooperation in the promotion and protection of IPR by conducting seminars and workshops among their personnel on piracy, telecommunications and broadcasting issues.