January 2025 | The Philippines has renewed its strong call at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) to finally convene a Diplomatic Conference to conclude the long-pending Broadcasting Organizations Treaty—negotiations for which began in Manila in 1997 and have remained unresolved for 28 years.
During the 47th Session of the WIPO Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights (SCCRR) held last month in Geneva, Switzerland, Philippine Mission Consul General Felipe “Bong” Cariño III delivered the country’s statement, jointly crafted with the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL).
The Philippine delegation cautioned that continued delays in concluding the Broadcasting Treaty leave broadcasters worldwide—particularly those in developing economies—exposed to widespread cross-border signal piracy. It stressed that the 1961 Rome Convention can no longer adequately respond to today’s digital piracy challenges, noting that the latest draft of the treaty already incorporates key protections for the public domain, flexibilities for developing countries, and built-in limitations and exceptions.
“The world is watching whether WIPO can still deliver balanced agreements,” Consul General Cariño III said. “Twenty-eight years is long enough. Let us finish what Manila started.”
Advancing balanced and inclusive copyright systems
Beyond the broadcasting agenda, the Philippines made several substantive interventions aimed at strengthening a more equitable global copyright regime.
The delegation reiterated its support for WIPO to build on the outcomes of the African Regional Conference on Artist’s Resale Rights by convening a similar regional meeting for the Asia-Pacific. The Philippines expressed its readiness to host such an event, citing shared regional priorities in strengthening collective management systems and exploring appropriate resale-right frameworks.
The Philippines also backed proposals for two separate studies on the audiovisual sector: one examining the rights and remuneration of audiovisual authors—such as producers and directors—and another focusing on the rights of actors and other audiovisual performers, including mechanisms for payment arising from the use of their performances.
Acting Director General Nathaniel S. Arevalo underscored that the country’s position reflects an urgent need for concrete progress.
“Balanced copyright must work in the real world,” ADG Arevalo said. “After nearly three decades, it is time to move forward, maximize policy space, and respond to the challenge of strengthening protection for creators’ and broadcasters’ intellectual property while keeping access and fairness at the core.”
Bureau of Copyright and Related Rights (BCRR) Director Emerson G. Cuyo, who represented IPOPHL at the SCCRR meetings, described the proposed studies as “timely and necessary,” particularly as digital and on-demand platforms continue to reshape how audiovisual works are accessed, used, and monetized.
“These studies can provide valuable evidence for policymaking and capacity-building that keeps pace with the digital environment,” Director Cuyo said. “We also encourage the inclusion of diverse national experiences, especially from developing countries, and an examination not only of legal rights but of actual remuneration practices.”
Director Cuyo added that the studies will also support IPOPHL’s ongoing preparations for the issuance of implementing regulations for the Beijing Treaty on Audiovisual Performances (BTAP).
Adopted in 2012 and entering into force on April 28, 2020, the BTAP establishes international standards for the protection and remuneration of audiovisual performances in both recorded and live formats. The treaty reflects the growing recognition of performers’ vital role in bringing creative works to the public.
For more information about IPO in the Philippines, check out https://www.ipophil.gov.ph/
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