MANILA, Philippines – Just like in the newest video campaign against illegal camcording that stars the actor Derek Ramsey, authorities have arrested two Chinese nationals for illegally recording a movie in a Manila cinema.
The two Chinese nationals are now under the custody of Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Anti-Fraud and Commercial Crimes Unit (CIDG-AFCCU) and are waiting for the issuance of final resolution from the reviewing prosecutor of Manila City Prosecutors Office.
The arrest of the two Chinese nationals came after the launch of the intensified campaign against illegal camcording by the multi-agency intellectual property rights (IPR) taskforce National Committee on IP Rights (NCIPR) led by the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL), Optical Media Board (OMB) and the Philippine National Police.
The two foreigners have been charged with violations of the Anti-Camcording Act of 2010 or Republic Act No. 10088. Under this law, a person found guilty of having in his possession, using or attempting to use a camcording device to transmit or record a film, or aiding, abetting or conniving in the commission of those activities faces a penalty of up to PhP750,000 and imprisonment of up to six years and one day.
“This should serve as a warning to those who want to attempt to violate the law and test the resolve of our enforcement officers,”said Police Superintendent Milo Pagtalunan of CIDG-AFCCU.
“Illegal camcording of movies not only hurt our foreign producers but also our very own Philippine movie industry. We call on the public to help us eliminate the pirates in our cinemas. Tips leading to an arrest will be illegible for a reward,” added OMB Chairman Ronnie Ricketts.
Furthermore, the regulatory safeguards against copyright infringements have been enhanced with the implementation of the new IP law in 2014, Republic Act No. 10372 which amends certain provisions in Republic Act No. 8293 or the IP Code of the Philippines. The law has introduced for the first time indirect infringement in copyright which makes intermediaries such as movie houses and Internet service providers also liable for infringement.
Under this law, those with knowledge of infringing activity, induces, causes or materially contributes to the infringing conduct of another shall also be criminally liable and subject to the payment of civil damages.
“The recent regulatory changes have tightened our laws against all forms of copyright infringements such as movie piracy. We have made sure that the new law does not only cover IP theft in the physical environment, but also infringement on the Internet, and make those indirectly benefiting from the crime also liable,” said Atty. Allan Gepty, IPOPHL Deputy Director General.
“Based on the study conducted by the IPOPHL and the World Intellectual Property Organization, the copyright based industry in the country contributes 7.34% to our Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and generates 14.14% of employment. With this promising figure, there is a compelling reason for us to further intensify our enforcement efforts to protect the rights of our copyright owners”, Gepty added.
