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| FILCOLS and CCC in Singapore. (l-r) Reg Pastor, membership officer, Michael Healy, international relations chief of the Copyright Clearance Center (USA), and Bebang Siy, trustee. Photo by Sarah Tran. |
FILCOLS Joins IFRRO Asia-Pacific Committee Regional Gathering to Foster Collaboration and Mentorship
The Filipinas Copyright Licensing Society, Inc. (FILCOLS) represented
by trustee Bebang Siy and membership officer Reg Pastor showed its commitment
to collaborate with its neighbors at the Asia Pacific Committee (APC) gathering held
in Singapore from April 12 to 14.
The event, which marked the first in-person gathering of
collective management organization (CMO) representatives since the pandemic,
was hosted by the International Federation of Reproduction Rights Organizations
(IFRRO) and the Copyright Licensing and Administration Society of Singapore
(CLASS) at the Jen Hotel Orchardgateway.
The regional meeting not only fostered discussions on CMO
challenges and developments but also inaugurated the IFRRO-ASEAN Mentorship
Program, with a focus on bolstering CMO operations in Vietnam, Malaysia,
Indonesia, and the Philippines. FILCOLS played a dual role as both a
participant at the gathering and a mentee, reinforcing its dedication to
regional cooperation and growth.
Reg Pastor presented the National Report to more than 40 delegates
from ASEAN countries, including Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, and the United States
of America. Also present were representatives of the Singaporean government.
Pastor highlighted the developments in the licensing agreement
with the Department of Education and the proposed legislation on intellectual
property rights specifically copyright and extended collective license (ECL).
Bebang Siy presented the status of piracy and counterfeiting in
the country including responses from the Intellectual Property Office of the
Philippines (IPOPHL) and the private sector.
Despite his inability to physically participate in the gathering, FILCOLS
executive director Alvin J. Buenaventura provided full support by arranging with
IFRRO a travel grant for Siy and Pastor so they could fly and stay in Singapore
for free. He also researched and prepared the reports and presentations of the
two representatives.
Text by Alvin J. Buenaventura. Photo by Sarah Tran.
Text and photo may be re-posted as long as the
authors are acknowledged.
