IPOPHL, NBDB to promote copyright in regions

July 5, 2023

The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) has started an exciting chapter in its partnership with the National Book Development Board (NBDB) as IPOPHL will now be bringing copyright awareness to the NBDB’s biggest local book festivals.

At the NBDB’s first-ever Philippine Book Festival held at the World Trade Center in Manila last June 2, IPOPHL Deputy Director General Ann Claire C. Cabochan and NBDB Executive Director Charisse Aquino-Tugade formally signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) that will include the Bureau of Copyright and Related Rights’ (BCRR) Copyright Caravan at the NBDB’s book festivals in regions.

“We know that respect for intellectual property (IP) rights is key to empowering and inspiring more writers, as well as the nation’s creative sector. And with copyright, our creatives will be encouraged to create more works, fully knowing that their ownership will not be stolen from them, and that they can continue to benefit both artistically and economically from their creative talents,” Cabochan said. 

“That’s why we welcome this collaboration with NBDB not only in today’s Philippine Book Festival but in the subsequent book events set to happen later this year,” she added. 

Tugade said the NBDB is grateful for IPOPHL’s support and looks forward to its continued support for its programs, particularly in promoting the copyright protection of books, in the latter half of the year.

The Copyright Caravan is a BCRR initiative focusing on knowledge-sharing copyright matters through seminars, and the promotion of copyright registration, projects and activities. It also seeks to establish linkages and build rapport with the copyright-based industries.

IPOPHL’s participation in the Manila leg of the Philippine Book Festival had been arranged prior to the signing with the MOA formalizing this arrangement. 

The BCRR conducted seminars focusing on the basics of copyright and copyright in the digital age. Both cumulatively drew in  a total of 77 attendees.

The BCRR also held the IP Tabletop Playtesting Project with nine Young Intellectual Property Advocates (YIPA) students and officers. Developed under the BCRR’s flagship Copyright Plus Program, this tabletop card game teaches players about the value of IP even as they play and enjoy the game.

Meanwhile, the IPOPHL booth manned by copyright experts fielded questions about copyright and how to register their works with IPOPHL from 58 visitors.

Following the Manila event, the BCRR aims to conduct similar activities to promote awareness of the basics of copyright and emerging related issues during the succeeding NBDB regional book fairs. The next will be held in Davao City later this year. 

For his part, IPOPHL Director General Rowel S. Barba remarked that ”while this collaboration will undoubtedly strengthen the partnership of IPOPHL and the NBDB, we’re confident this will lead to more activities in the future that will raise the public’s awareness of their IP rights while also boosting the creative industry’s socio-economic development and growth consistent with the Marcos Administration’s priorities. # # # (Joseph Nacino, Communications and Marketing Writer)