Cable programmers seek government help in fight vs piracy

Providers of popular cable TV programs are asking the Philippine government to take a more proactive stance against piracy, stressing that continuing violations of intellectual property rights put to serious doubts government’s enforcement capabilities.

In a conference titled "Anti-Piracy Forum 2001," international programmers like HBO Asia, Cinemax, Turner International, National Geographic Channel, ESPN/Star Sports, Star TV, Worldwide Motion Picture Association and the Cable and Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (CASBAA) appealed to President Arroyo to "put an end to the unscrupulous practice of cable TV piracy."

During the whole-day forum, network executives took turns complaining about the inadequate protection they receive against rogue cable operators, including the labyrinthine legal processes they have to go through to protect their intellectual property rights.

Jeffrey Chan, representative of HBO Asia, enumerated several ways by which its cable programs are pirated. These include the use of floating or wandering decoder boxes which find their way

into the Philippines and used for illegally picking up HBO’s signals; tapping of cable transmissions; recording and playback of programs; cloning of smart cards; and unauthorized re-transmission.

Star TV and Turner International, on the other hand, complained of the "inadequate legal/legislative framework" to address cable TV piracy. Its representatives cited the need to "simplify policies and procedures and strict imposition of sanctions" against erring cable operators. They added that it makes no difference whether signals are encrypted or unencrypted – the unauthorized use of the same constitutes piracy.

Meanwhile, the Worldwide Motion Picture Association said the Philippines ranks next to Indonesia and Malaysia in terms of piracy of motion pictures including unauthorized re-transmission of cable TV programs.

Meanwhile, the Worldwide Motion Picture Association said the Philippines ranks next to Indonesia and Malaysia in terms of piracy of motion pictures including unauthorized re-transmission of cable TV programs.

Given the worsening level of IPR violations in the Philippines, the country was recently included in the US Special 301 Watch List, a roster of countries that fail to provide adequate protection to IPR owners.

According to David Krzywda, economic officer of the US Embassy in Manila who was also a participant in the anti-piracy forum, the Philippines has enough laws against piracy," but enforcement remains weak."

Gravely concerned over complaints aired by the US embassy and cable program providers, the National Telecommunications Commissions and the Intellectual Property Office promised to work hand-in-hand with the private sector to address IPR concerns.

They also assured forum participants that the administration of President Arroyo is giving top priority to the piracy issue in order to get the Philippines out of the dreaded Special 301 Priority Watch List as soon as possible.