Ayala-led Globe Telecom has entered into a landmark memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) and four major internet service providers (ISPs) to establish a site-blocking mechanism in the ongoing fight against online piracy.
The MOU, a first of its kind in Asia, precedes anticipated legislative amendments to the Philippines’ Intellectual Property Code. These amendments are expected to institutionalize more robust anti-piracy measures.
Yoly Crisanto, chief sustainability and communications officer of Globe Group, emphasized the pivotal role of this initiative in addressing piracy’s adverse impact on the creative industry.
Neil Gane of the Motion Pictures Association noted that this MOU is the second globally, following Germany’s lead.
While recognizing the internet’s benefits, the MOU underscores the risks of online piracy, harming legitimate stakeholders and exposing users to malware and phishing threats.
Legislative amendments for site-blocking are pending in Congress, and Globe Telecom advocates for a more robust and institutionalized mechanism under the law, penalizing offenders and making site-blocking routine for ISPs.
Globe supports bills under Senate review to empower IPOPHL against copyright-infringing sites, reinforcing its commitment to combating piracy and protecting content creators.
