IPOPHL sets out efforts in metaverse with Stardust partnership

August 22, 2022

The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL), through its Bureau of Copyright and Related Rights (BCRR), has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with metaverse platform Stardust Digital Private Ltd. to help local creators confidently create content in virtual worlds and better reach a global audience.

“The metaverse allows our artists and creatives to have more control over the promotion, utilization, commercialization and monetization of their intellectual property creations in a manner that has not been observed before. So whether we look at the metaverse as an extension of the real world or a totally new digital universe, it stands to benefit the Philippine creative industry as the Philippines has always been recognized for the innate creativity and talent of its people,” BCRR Director Emerson G. Cuyo said. 

“The metaverse will thus be an important market where we can promote original Filipino content and creations.”

Stardust is a Singapore-based metaverse platform that aims to connect creators in the entertainment world to a global audience and creator community. Content in this upcoming virtual space will range from film and games to music and the arts. 

Gin Kai Chan, CEO of Stardust, explains the Philippines’ importance as a metaverse market and why the company chose it as their first destination to establish foreign presence.

“There are so many talented creators here and forward-looking organizations that understand the myriad of possibilities that Web3 presents. We look forward to many exciting collaborations with partners in the Philippines such as IPOPHL, which is among the first government agencies in the Philippines to include the metaverse universe in its radar,” Chan said.

Under the MOU, IPOPHL and Stardust agree to collaborate and promote the development, protection, commercialization and internationalization of original Philippine-registered IP intellectual property products and services and creative content through the Stardust metaverse.

The signing event in July also served as a soft launch for Stardust which eyes to run in full swing by end-2022.

The event also paved the way for several partnerships to be sealed among Creative Content Creators Association of the Philippines (SIKAP), Game Developers Association of the Philippines (GDAP), Animation Producer Lawrence Panganiban, Stardust’s Southeast Region Head and IP Ecologist Magoo Del Mundo, Taktyl Studios, Overmind, Thirty Six-0, Robosheep and SeedCore Inc.

The event also saw the announcement of NeoManila and Cebu Entertainment City — virtual cities that will be built in Stardust. Five companies inked contracts to set up offices in NeoManila.

“We want to build a virtual world where creators can share their creative magic with their fans, and communities can connect and grow together. Here’s a call-out to all budding and veteran filmmakers, animators, game developers, comic book artists and music artists. See you in Stardust!” Del Mundo of Stardust added.