IPO, CASBAA agrees to boost anti cable piracy drive in RP

The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) and the Hong Kong-based Cable and Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (CASBAA) have agreed to take further initiatives to address the problem of cable piracy in the country through a series of joint undertakings and stricter enforcement drive.

The agreement was reached between IPO Director General Adrian S. Cristobal, Jr. and CASBAA president Simon Twiston Davies following the latter’s recent visit to the IPO.

Cristobal said that the government is doing all its best to address piracies not only in the cable industry but all sectors, which are equally involved or have stakes in intellectual property rights.

The Director General said that the IPO fully realized the amount of investment and income, not to mention the number of jobs that could have been generated out of the losses from piracy.

During the meeting, Davies thanked the government for its anti-piracy effort, adding that CASBAA, which has more than 120 cable and satellite providers’ members, is satisfied over the series of raids that were conducted by IP units from law enforcement agencies, especially the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

To further boost the anti-piracy drive, the CASBAA has proposed to the IPO the holding of a cable conference next year to further identify and discuss issues that are affecting the cable industry in the country and raise public awareness on the problem it is facing.

It also offered to help organize trainings and seminars for law enforcers and cable regulators on how to identify and combat cable piracy.

Cristobal agreed on the proposal but said that a memorandum of agreement on the holding of the conference should be signed among the agencies and organizations involved including the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).

The Director General said that the conference would pave the way for a “private-public sector” partnership on piracy in the pay-TV industry.

He said that aside from the event that was initially scheduled for next year, the cable industry must have a well-defined and developed IP strategy including the enforcement side.

Cristobal also said that the IPO and CASBAA should undertake greater coordination whenever any enforcement action or public awareness campaign is carried out.

The Director General also informed Davies that the IPO and NTC are already working on a memorandum of agreement that would define the role of the IPO on IP cases with the telecommunications body and for the enhancement of NTC’s IP unit.