Countering bad-faith TM hijack by first-to-file
Despite rightfully owning a trademark, a foreign company failing to apply for itsregistration in a timely manner in the Philippines is often confronted with the issue ofbad-faith or fraudulent registration, countered by opposition, cancellation and unfaircompetition actions.The Philippines follows the first-to-file system; anyone who first applies will begranted registration, to the exclusion of the true […]
Applying fair use doctrine to generative AI
In a meeting with technology investors in San Francisco, California, late last year,Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr vowed the readiness of the Philippines toembrace AI, and invited technology companies to become partners as the countrybraces for the so-called industrial revolution 4.0. While the country’s National AIStrategy Roadmap has been in place since 2021, AI adoption […]
Asserting performers’ rights in the digital music space
The Philippines is famously a land of singers, and the 2020 pandemic spurred theemergence of a new medium for performing – through interactive livestreams and on-demand webcasts. Within this corner of the digital space, artists and performers comeup with original compositions and entertaining covers. Many have gained sizeablefollowings on social media, all without the machinery […]
Challenges to curbing piracy in e-commerce platforms in the Philippines
Earlier this year, the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) Ruleson Voluntary Administrative Site Blocking, or Memorandum Circular No. 2023-025,became effective. This legally enables internet service providers (ISPs) to blockwebsites that distribute infringing content or pirated material. By restricting access tothese pirate sites, the initiative also aims to steer consumers towards legitimatesources. This is […]