The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) urged aspiring public servants running for the 2025 elections to respect intellectual property rights (IPR) by seeking permission from artists before transforming their works into catchy campaign jingles, slogans and merchandise items.
Rowel Barba, director-general of IPOPHL, in a statement yesterday political candidates may face not only public backlash that could derail their chances for their vied positions but also a copyright infringement lawsuit.
Under Section 173 of Republic Act 8293 or the IP Code of 1997, a derivative work is defined as new work that does not violate any subsisting copyright upon the original work employed or any part thereof.
“Candidates’ respect for intellectual property rights is a litmus test of their integrity and trustworthiness as future public servants. I don’t think any voter would like to see any copyright owner and artist, especially their favorite artists, deprived of their right to have a say on the use of their work for a political campaign,” Barba said in a statement yesterday.
While the campaign period starts next year, IPOPHL is making this early reminder for candidates so they can allot enough time to properly seek the permission.
Bureau of Copyright and Related Rights (BCRR) Director Emerson G. Cuyo encouraged political candidates and parties to contact IPOPHL-accredited collective management organizations (CMOs) to secure the right licenses for the transformation and public performance of works.
CMOs such as the Filipino Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers Inc., Philippines Recorded Music Rights Inc., Independent Music Producers of the Philippines and Sounds Recording Rights Society, Inc. could help facilitate negotiations and licensing arrangements for the transformation, use or public performance of songs and music, which are the most common types of copyrighted work transformed for local political campaigns.
