Copyright registrations soar by 76% in 2023

MANILA, Philippines —  Copyright registrations hit record-breaking levels in 2023, soaring by 76 percent amid increased awareness, according to the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL).

In a statement, IPOPHL said copyright registrations totaled 6,522, a huge increase from 3,706 registrations in 2022.

IPOPHL said books, pamphlets, articles, e-books, audio books, comics, novels and other writings category accounted for over half of the copyright registrations with a 52.6 percent share.

This was followed by audiovisual works and cinematographic works with an 18.1 percent share and computer programs, software, games and applications with an 8.8 percent share.

Other copyright registration categories include musical compositions, with or without lyrics (6.1 percent), drawings, paintings, architectural works, sculpture, engraving, prints, lithography, or other works of art, models or designs for works of art (4.9 percent), ornamental designs or models for articles of manufacture and industrial objects and other works of applied art (3.2 percent), among others.

IPOPHL director general Rowel Barba attributed the increase to the efforts of the agency to increase awareness and help people understand the importance of safeguarding their IP.

“Although copyright protection is provided automatically upon creation, registration certificates provide an added layer of protection to copyrighted works,” Barba said.

For his part, Bureau of Copyright and Related Rights (BCRR) director Emerson Cuyo said the bureau would be further intensifying its efforts to bridge copyright learning in the Philippines through various roadshows and furthering the reach of its Copyright Plus Program, which supports projects that empower underrepresented artists.

Cuyo also encouraged creatives to utilize the IP system, noting that copyright registration can be easily done online.

“In just a few clicks and just a few days, you can safeguard your works and navigate the future with greater confidence over the ownership of your works. Make the wise decision of registering today rather than regretting not having given your works enough protection,” Cuyo said.

The IPOPHL shared that it received positive feedback from copyright registrants, citing one registrant who said the process was “convenient, simplified and systematic.”

“The BCCR’s streamlined recordal and deposit system is definitely a great help to the IP community,” the registrant said.

Copyright is the legal protection extended to the owner of the rights in an original work, according to the IPOPHL.

It said the creators of works protected by copyright hold the exclusive right to use or authorize others to use the work on agreed terms.

“The right holder(s) of a work can authorize or prohibit: its reproduction in all forms, including print form and sound recording, public performance and communication to the public, broadcasting, translation into other languages, and adaptation, such as from a novel to a screenplay for a film,”the agency said.

IPOPHL is the government agency mandated to administer and implement state policies on intellectual property (IP) to strengthen the protection of IP rights in the country.