MAS MARAMING MADADALANG KOPYA NG LEGITIMATE COPYRIGHTED WORKS ANG MGA OFW SA BAGONG BATAS (RA 10372)

ni Alvin J. Buenaventura

Ayon sa IPOPHL hindi po magiging problema para sa OFW ang bagong RA 10372. Sinagot ng IPOPHL ang mga points na isinulat ni Ms. Raissa Robles. Eto po ang link: http://www.ipophil.gov.ph/

Mas marami nga pong madadalang goods ang OFW sa bagong batas. Eto po ang portion for OFWs bringing goods from abroad:

Under the IP Code amendments, Filipinos returning from abroad can bring in more
than three (3) copies of legitimate copyrighted works. Under Section 190.1 of the
present RA 8293, importation for personal purposes means that you are only entitled to
import in the Philippines up to three (3) copies of copyrighted works in your personal
baggage. Once imported, the present law also states that such copies cannot be used to
violate the rights of the copyright owner, or else you will be liable for copyright infringement (Sec. 190.2). By deleting these provisions under the amendment, there is no longer any limit to the number of copies that can be imported. Also, importation shall not be considered copyright infringement if it falls under the general exceptions which includes fair use (Chapter VIII, Sec. 185 IP Code). 

Contrary to Ms. Robles’ insinuations that OFWs can no longer bring home copyrighted works, they can in fact bring home more copies for personal use that fall under the fair use exceptions. The deletion of Sections 190.1 and 190.2 in fact allows for religious, charitable, or educational institutions to import more copies, for as long as they are not infringing or pirated copies, so that more Filipino students in the country may use such works. Moreover, the IPOPHL has a very good working relationship with the Bureau of Customs, hence, there can be no misinterpretation of the real intention of the amendment in the Rules to be drafted by the Commissioner of Customs.

Ang organisasyon pong kinabibilangan ko ay matagal nang hinihintay na mabago ang batas na ginawa pa noong 1997. (Na di pa uso ang blogs, wala pang smart phones at iba pa). Ibig sabihin napag-iwanan na po ito ng panahon. Kaya dapat nang i-update.

Halimbawa, sa lumang batas, ang moral right ng author ay may expiration. Ibig sabihin, ang name ng author ay puwedeng burahin after 50 years mula sa pagkamatay niya. Eto po ang lumang provision:

Sec. 198. Term of Moral Rights. -

198.1. The rights of an author under this chapter shall last during the lifetime of the author and for fifty (50) years after his death and shall not be assignable or subject to license.

Pero inayos po ito sa bagong batas. Kaya ang karapatan po ng mga manunulat na Pinoy sa paglalagay ng names nila sa mga akda at blogs ay protektado na.

Eto po ang nakalagay sa bagong batas:

Sec. 198. Term of Moral Rights. – 198.1. The right of an author  under Section 193.1. shall last during the lifetime of the author and in perpetuity after his death while the rights under Sections 193.2. 193.3. and 193.4. shall be coterminous with the economic rights, the moral rights shall not be assignable or subject to license.

Ang implikasyon po kasi ng lumang batas ay puwede nang burahin ang name ng author sa kanyang isinulat 50 years after his/her death. Pero hindi po ito magandang batas. Kasi kung paiiralin natin ito ay kawawa naman ang mga Pinoy author. 

Sa bagong batas, "in perpetuity" ang moral rights ng author.

Sana patuloy na alamin ng mga manunulat na Pinoy (at alamin nang todo) ang kanilang mga karapatan sa ilalim ng bagong copyright law. Inaanyayahan din silang magtulung-tulong na magpalaganap ng tamang information tungkol dito.

Salamat po.

ALVIN J. BUENAVENTURA

Executive Director, FILCOLS