Talk:Philippine copyright law

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[edit] MUSIC & PIRACY

by: Atty. Carlos Caliwara

Piracy or copyright infringement is a menace that has been plaguing the music industry for the longest time. In a very simple sense, it is stealing, that deprives the composers, the artists, among others, of their due recognition as the owners of unique intellectual creations.

Music has always been a part of people's lives. Everyone likes it. Mostly loves it. There seems to be no exception. Music is heard practically everywhere and appreciated. Whistling is music. So is humming. Listening to music soothes our senses. It heals emotions and even the physical body. It enriches relationships. We can communicate by singing. We also worship through music. There is music available to all kinds of mood, person and persuasion.

Yet despite the role of music and its importance in people’s lives, only a few would really care and give the attention it deserves against piracy. While there may be laws and enforcers, it is obvious that they are not enough. We still see people selling and people buying CDs, VCDs and DVDs which were copied from the originals without any authority or license. As a result, royalties due the artists, composers, publishers and record companies are not given since the entire bounty goes to the coffers of pirates. The government is also deprived of its share in terms of taxes.

Each one of us therefore, has a role and duty to perform as responsible citizens and music enthusiasts.

Just to emphasize. It is clear that music piracy or copyright infringement is committed when somebody duplicates music in any other format and by transferring it through any means, with the intention of profiting or unjustly benefiting from it but without paying for it.

Any person downloading it over the internet without paying for it, or even if he pays for it but shares it with others without paying for such transfer, is definitely as guilty as those who does the illegal burning or copying as an illegitimate business. People who spent their time, money and resources including but definitely the most important of all, their intellectual creativity, to make other people happy and make lives more bearable and pleasant, end up as victims.

In the end the general public suffers since the people who created the music are robbed of their opportunity to be more creative and to produce more. Today, we hear of rampant internet downloading from illegal or unlicensed websites. Some may have even made it a habit to download music on a regular basis from these websites. Others have patronized the sale of music from illegitimate sources and by illegal traders.

This crime is gradually killing an industry and eventually, our right and privilege to continuously enjoy music.

We need everyone to be aware of this and we need to unite to peacefully fight them. How do we do it? Simply, by not downloading music from dubious sources and by not buying music CDs which were illegally burned or copied. We should not cease to look for legitimate sources. We should stop patronizing illegal websites and illegal traders. By doing so, we are supporting the artists, composers and other industry stakeholders. That is the bottomline.

Chronicles Symphony Entertainment, Inc., with the support of its portal partner, the Mannasoft Technology Corporation, has provided a legitimate source of music over the internet through www.mp3pilipinas.com and in line with its commitment and advocacy against music piracy, it has taken the initiative of holding a series of digital launches featuring various genres, the artists and their kind of music.