Comelec to artists: File complaints vs unauthorized use of songs for campaign

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Monday urged artists and musicians to file formal complaints against Eleksyon 2025 candidates who will use their songs for campaign jingles without their permission. 

Garcia made the remarks after OPM band Lola Amour recently aired its sentiments over campaign jingles using their hit song "Raining in Manila."

“Sinabi na po namin 'yan bago pa magsimula ang campaign period sa national. 'Wag nanakawin ang akda ng iba. 'Wag nanakawin ang mismong lyrics ng iba. 'Wag natin gagawin 'yan kasi kawawa naman ang mga artistang Pilipino na nagpapakahirap. Intellectual property po nila 'yan,” said Garcia. 

(We already told bets not to steal other people’s creation. That’s their intellectual property.)

“Meron kaming memorandum of agreement with IPOPHL…Sinabi namin basta may mag-complain sa 'min agad naming aaksyunan 'yan. Sana dun sa banda na nagrereklamo na ang kanilang akda ay nagamit, sana maibato sa 'min 'yung complaint para makapag-coordinate kami with IPOPHL at para mabigyan nang karampatang notice ang gumagamit nito,” he said. 

(We have an agreement with  IPOPHL. We already said we will take action if a complaint will be filed with us. We hope the band will lodge a complaint so we can coordinate with the IPOPHL and file notices on the candidates.)

According to Garcia, the poll body presumes the candidates own the campaign jingle they use and will hold them accountable if they are not. 

“Sa sarili mo nga hindi ka makagawa nang jingle, ‘yung kalaban mo gagawan mo ng jingle? Parang common sense na lang. Mas maganda ang approach natin, we will presume na sila ang may akda niyan, alam nila 'yan, kanila 'yan, therefore, gumawa sila ng paraan. They should apologize sa mismong may akda, author o composer and magpaliwanag sa IPOHIL kasi may nilalabag silang intellectual property. Hindi lang 'yan paglabag sa election law at iba pang batas,” he said.

(You can't even create a jingle for yourself, yet you want to make one for your opponent? It’s just common sense. For our approach, we will assume that they are the authors of that jingle, and they know it belongs to them, so they should find a way to address this. They need to apologize to the actual author or composer and explain themselves to IPOHIL because they are violating intellectual property rights. This isn't just a violation of election law and other regulations.)

“Sa amin pwede namin sila patawarin, eh sa IPOPHL? Ang accountable dito ay 'yung kandidato,” he added. 

(We can forgive them but how about the IPOPHL? We will hold the candidates accountable.)

Over the weekend, Lola Amour posted on X (formerly Twitter) that all the campaign jingles using their song do not have their permission to do so.

"Btw guys, this happened before and I guess it’s happening again: All of the campaign jingles using our songs do not have our consent. Vote wisely," the band wrote.

In January, the poll body signed an agreement with the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) to curb unauthorized use of songs for campaign jingles of bets for the May polls. —AOL, GMA Integrated News

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