At the close of the Anti-Piracy Month, the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) continues its close cooperation with leading broadcast network GMA, which has launched a series of new videos as part of its campaign to combat digital piracy in the Philippines.
Despite growing awareness of its harms, digital piracy continues to trouble the Philippine media sector. A 2024 survey by the Asia Video Industry Association’s Coalition Against Piracy found a marked increase in piracy consumption in the Philippines, with a recorded incidence of 70 percent. The trend highlights the need for stronger collaboration among industry players, government and other partners to curb piracy.
The new media campaign, led by actors from GMA’s hit show Encantadia Chronicles: Sang’gre, makes an appeal to the audience by emphasizing the cybersecurity risks that come with accessing pirated digital content, including malware and theft of personal data.
“Be careful with free downloads. If it’s too good to be true, I’m sure it’s pirated,” cautions actress Rhian Ramos in one video. Ramos joins her co-stars in urging audiences to watch shows on legitimate streaming platforms for their own safety.
Over the past few years, IPOPHL and GMA have developed a strong working partnership in combating digital piracy in the Philippines. In 2023, both parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to affirm their commitment to safeguarding IP rights in the creative industry and establish a framework for collaborations.
They have since collaborated on several joint projects, including the 2nd Philippine International Copyright Summit and a symposium on piracy and cybercrime in 2024. IPOPHL has also been a supporter of the TV network’s anti-piracy campaigns.
“Piracy threatens the very foundation of creative industries. Through our strengthened partnership with IPOPHIL, GMA Network reaffirms its commitment to protecting Filipino content creators and ensuring that their work is respected, valued, and legally safeguarded,” said Atty. Vinney Ibarra of GMA’s Legal Affairs department.
During a recent courtesy visit to the IPOPHL office, GMA officials held a dialogue with Acting Director Nathaniel S. Arevalo to discuss developments related to piracy and emerging policies in response to AI, as well as opportunities for future collaborations.
“GMA has been a steadfast partner in the fight against piracy,” said Arevalo. “We are happy to reaffirm our mutual commitment to building a vibrant and prolific media landscape in the Philippines, built on a foundation of responsible consumption and respect for intellectual property.”
