Senate panel to begin hearings on anti-online piracy bills next week

A Senate panel will start its legislative inquiry on two proposed bills strengthening the powers and functions of the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) to protect the creative industry against online piracy next week. 

The office of Senator Mark Villar, chairperson of the Senate trade and industry committee, said the hearings on Senate Bill Nos. 2150 and 2385 will begin on April 23.

Among the invited resource speakers is the Intellectual Property Office (IPOPHL).

Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon Revilla Jr. filed SB 2150 and 2385, respectively.

In his explanatory note, Estrada noted the "pervasiveness" of piracy in the country which he said severely hampers the growth of the creative economy and lead to loss of jobs or displacement of workers.

Meanwhile, Revilla filed SB 2385 to "empower the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines to disable access to sites which infringes copyright and initiate action for site blocking."

The counterpart measures of the proposed bills was passed by the House of Representatives in May 2023.—Sundy Locus/AOL, GMA Integrated News