IPOPHL visits Anakbanwa Exhibit in Dagupan to promote copyright registration

February 15, 2022

The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) recently visited the Anakbanwa Exhibit in Dagupan City, Pangasinan to promote intellectual property (IP) protection, specifically copyright registration, among  artists. 

“Copyright security is better achieved when creators opt to register their original works with IPOPHL. Current registration rates have made our services more available for artists who struggle financially, especially if they want to secure a bulk of their artworks,” IPOPHL Director General Rowel S. Barba told artists of the Anakbanwa Arts Residency Project during the exhibit tour last January 29. 

Spearheaded by Congressman Christopher “Toff” V.P. de Venecia, the Anakbanwa Arts Residency Project is an arts and cultural initiative of the fourth district of Pangasinan. The project gives resident artists an opportunity to immerse in the district’s cultural heritage and diverse artistic practices, interact with the community and create works inspired by their unique encounters.

From December 2021 to January 2022, select works of the resident artists were displayed in the Anakbanwa Art Exhibit in the McArthur House, West Central Elementary School where de Venecia spoke about the project’s goals in helping artists better appreciate the value of their works to culture and the economy.

“The goal is to empower our local creatives here in the Fourth District to be able to avail the protection of their IP and to understand their rights and privileges. With the emerging [infringement] trends growing online, and there, kailangan yung IP [protection],” de Venecia said. 

“But also, consumers must understand their responsibility not to infringe on anyone’s IP. I always say that a strong foundation of a strong and vibrant creative economy is a strong and vibrant IP regime,” he added.

During a working lunch with IPOPHL, resident artists narrated their own experiences of IP violations, admitting this was due to little understanding of the full breadth of their rights as creators. 

The meeting then served also as an avenue for artists to consult IPOPHL experts present at the table and receive legal advice in properly protecting their works. 

“We assure our stakeholders that they can secure better protection once they entrust us with keeping these works safe through registration,” Barba emphasized.

With IPOPHL’s efforts to increase awareness on the benefits of copyright registration, copyright deposits soared 122% to 2,086 in 2021 from 940 in 2020.