No reason for delay in passage of anti-piracy bills
January 12, 2024No reason for delay in passage of anti-piracy bills
CitizenWatch decries the inertia of the Senate in passing the Online Site Blocking Act, when no less than the President has certified it as a priority.
Online pirates have been stealing from the Philippine creatives industry, depriving creative workers of just rewards, and exposing our people to cyberthreats.
Our senators have to act when they resume their session and before they break again for the Lenten Season. One more day of delay is another day for pirates and cybercriminals to profit from the illegal streaming of copyrighted content. This is a big blow to what should be a thriving economic driver of the Philippine economy.
At the House of Representatives, House Bill 7600 authored by Rep. Joey Salceda has successfully been passed. But Senate Bill 2150 authored by Sen. Jinggoy Estrada and Senate Bill 2385 by Sen. Bong Revilla have yet to move in the Upper Chamber. In fact, the Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce, and Entrepreneurship chaired by Senator Mark Villar has not even had a single hearing to discuss the merits of the proposed law.
It is the government, through legislation, that should assert the importance of protecting original creations and recognizing the contribution of artists in all aspects of creative production. Imagine the heights that we could achieve if we were not hobbled by the menace of piracy. Take the recent Metro Manila Film Festival, which showcased the creative spirit and innovative spirit of Filipinos despite the reign of foreign-made films and the availability of streaming services, and after the slump caused by the pandemic.
Workers in our creative sector need our support and protection lest they become disenfranchised. Without their creations, the damage is not just economic, the deterioration of innovative thought and creative expression will weaken the nation’s socio-cultural development.
Allowing cyberthieves to profit from the hard work of others and incentivizes more theft of intellectual property. We call on our good legislators in the Senate to act expeditiously on the Online Site Blocking Act.