Wednesday, May 25, 2011

FILCOLS at PAARLS Training before School Year Opens

Alvin Buenaventura, the Executive Director of Filipinas Copyright Licensing Society or FILCOLS, delivered a talk on copyright in the PAARL Academy's 2-Day Modular Training Program. It was held last May 19-20, 2011 at The Librarian's Center, 5F, National Book Store Superbranch, Cubao, Quezon City.

Bibliotherapy Services through Book Prescription Shops in Libraries and Information Centers were presented and discussed by experts.

Librarians, members of the academic community and other professionals graced the event. Miriam Grade School, Technological Institute of the Philippines Quezon City and Manila Campuses, Colegio de San Juan de Letran Calamba, University of Santo Tomas Education High School and its Miguel de Benavidez Library, De La Salle University Dasmariñas, Our Lady of Peace School, University of the Cordilleras, University of the East Manila,Adamson University, St. Louis University Baguio, University of the Philippines College of Engineering Library, La Consolacion College Manila, Sto. Niño Catholic School Taguig City, Manila Tytana Colleges, University of Baguio, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, Holy Angel University Pampanga, Lyceum of the Philippines, MSEUF Lucena,AIIAS Cavite, PLTC Inc., Bayombong, Nueva Viscaya, King Fahd Specialist Hospital Dammam, Bulacan Agricultural State College, Bulacan State University, Ateneo de Manila University Rizal Library, San Nicolas Municipal Library of Pangasinan, Mindanao State University, Buug Campus and San Beda College Alabang were represented.

PAARL, in cooperation with the National Bookstore, organized the Training Program.

The Philippine Association of Academic and Research Librarians represents the librarians of institutions supporting scholarly, research and/or formal education on the collegiate level and above. Know more about PAARL here http://www.dlsu.edu.ph/library/paarl/default.asp

Buhay na Titik: IP Rights sa Konstitusyon

ni Alvin J. Buenaventura ng FILCOLS


IP Rights sa Konstitusyon


Ang Intellectual Property Rights ng scientists, writers, artists, at iba pang malikhaing tao ay pinapahalagahan ng Konstitusyon o Saligang Batas ng Pilipinas.

Ayon dito: The State shall protect and secure the exclusive rights of scientists, inventors, artists, and other gifted citizens to their intellectual property and creations, particularly when beneficial to the people, for such period as may be provided by law. (Article XIV, Sec. 13)

Obligasyon ng State o gobyerno na bigyang proteksiyon at seguridad ang karapatan ng mga malikhaing mamamayan sa kanilang mga IP at mga gawa o akda.

Ang mga taong may likas na talino at galing ay lumilikha ng mga bagay na nakakatulong sa bayan. Halimbawa, ang mga scientist ay nakakatuklas ng mga bagong gamot; ang mga imbentor ay nakakagawa ng mga bagong produkto na solusyon sa problema ng tao; ang mga artist ay nakakapagbigay-aliw sa pamamagitan ng bagong sayaw, musika, painting, o sculpture; ang mga writer ay nakakapagsulat ng bagong nobela, tula, o aklat pambata and at the same time, nakakapagbigay ng bagong pagtanaw sa buhay.


Halimbawa, dahil sa mga romance novel ni Martha Cecilia, marami ang nagkaroon ng inspirasyon sa pag-ibig, marami ang naaliw, at higit sa lahat, maraming negosyo ang umusbong na nakapagbigay ng trabaho.

Dahil sa malikhaing isip ni Martha Cecilia ay lumabas ang series na “Kristine.” Ito ang naging ugat na isang telenovela na pinagbibidahan ng paboritong artista ng biyenan mo, si Cristine Reyes! At nagbigay ito ng trabaho sa mga artista at iba pang katuwang na nagtatrabaho sa TV industry. Siyempre marami ang nanood at nag-enjoy. Na dahilan upang marami ang mag-advertise at makabenta ng kanilang mga sabon, telecom service, shampoo, at iba pang produkto.

Kung hahayaan lang ng gobyerno na piratahin ang mga IP ng kanyang mamamayan ay para na rin niyang hinayaang matuyot ang kanyang bayan. Tuyot sa mga bagong akda. Tuyot sa inspirasyon. Tuyot ang negosyo at kabuhayan ng marami na umaasa sa malikhaing isip ng authors.

Kung ang Konstitusyon ay nagpapahalaga sa IPR ng ating mga kababayan, dapat ay magsimula ka na ring pahalagahan ito. Madali lang naman, e. Una ay talikdan ang mga pirata at produkto nila.


Inaanyayahan ang mga awtor, publisher, o tagapagmana ng copyright na sumali sa FILCOLS. Ito’y para mabigyang proteksiyon ang kanilang mga akda. Kailangan lamang ay mayroon kayong published works kung kayo ay awtor/publisher o nasa inyo ang kapangyarihang magmanage kung heirs kayo ng awtor. Wala pong membership fee. Kung may tanong hinggil sa tinalakay na paksa, mag-email lamang sa filcols@gmail.com.

15 writing fellows chosen for 4th Palihang Rogelio Sicat.

Mayo 15, 2011

From over 100 applicants, 15 writing fellows have been chosen for the 4th Rogelio Sicat Writing Workshop.

This year, the participants of the only national creative writing workshop in the Filipino language are the following:

(POETRY)

Philip Anorico (Angono, Rizal)

Joshua Diokno (Quezon City)

Lolito Go (Olongapo City, Zambales)

Ram Hernandez (San Mateo, Rizal)

Louie Jon Sanchez (Caloocan City)

Randel Urbano (Quezon City)

Jenny Whil Mesiera Valenzuela (Lucena City, Quezon)

(SHORT STORY)

Patricia Ruth B. Cailao (Quezon City)

Mary Deane Camua (Guiguinto, Bulacan)

Jesus Catigan Insilada (Calinog, Iloilo)

Pia Montalban (Quezon City)

Anna Christina G. Nadora (Meycauayan City, Bulacan)

Renato R. Santillan (Dagupan City, Pangasinan)

Karl Ivan Dan V. Orit (Bacoor, Cavite)

(ESSAY)

Ipelineo Soco (Valenzuela City)

The workshop will be conducted by pillars of Philippine Literature Efren Abueg, Rogelio Ordonez, and Elmer Ordonez along with the writing workshop’s faculty staff.

“The number of workshop applicants for this year is record-breaking. There were many well-written entires. Unfortunately, we only have 15 slots for the workshop,” says Dr. Jimmuel Naval, chairperson of the Department of Filipino and Philippine Literature (Departamento ng Filipino at Panitikang Pilipino, DFPP) of the University of the Philippines, and workshop director.

The Fourth Palihang Rogelio Sicat is handled by both the DFPP and the Cavite Young Writers’ Association. This year’s writing workshop will be held at Alfonso, Cavite this 26 – 29 of May.

“From more than 100 submissions, many came from outside of Metro Manila. Some came all the way from Cagayan de Oro and Davao, Iloilo and Negros, Bikol and Northern Luzon,” adds Professor Reuel Molina Aguila, workshop director.

Friday, May 20, 2011

Bikol poets, performing artists converge for ailing poetess

It will not be just poetry but ‘poetreat’ at 5PM on May 20 at Wharf Galley (Avenue Square) as members of the local literary community and performing arts gather their creative forces to raise funds for cancer patient Jocelyn Bisuña. Dubbed as Mga Berso nin Pagpa-Omay: Healing Verses for Jo, the event will feature Bikol poets, all members of Kabulig-Bikol and Parasurat Bikolnon reading Bisuña’s poems with interpretative dances by theater group Kaboronyogan. Bikol authors will set up a book fair, the proceeds of which will go to Bisuña’s funds. There will also be performances by dance group Fire n Ice.



Bisuña, “Jo” to friends, is a mother, teacher, writer, performance artist and cultural worker. She has taught at La Consolacion College-Iriga and University of Northeastern Philippines. She is a founding member of Kaboronyogan and is a regular panelist in local creative writing workshops. Her works have appeared in various publications and her poems will be published in an anthology of Bikol female poets to come out within the year.


In November 2008, Jo was found to have cancer of the left breast. The particular aggressiveness of her cancer necessitated mastectomy and chemotherapy thereafter, which she bravely endured the next month until April of 2009. All seemed well until the cancer recurred in her chest wall barely a month after the last chemo cycle. This prompted her to have another surgery albeit a local one. September of the same year saw Jo undergoing a series of radiotherapy at the University of Santo Tomas.


Despite the continuing treatment, bone and CT scans revealed that the cancer has spread to the bones of her chest and in her lungs. Unable to fund the 160k + per 21-day cycle of chemotherapy, Jo and her family decided to participate in a drug trial in St. Luke’s Medical Center to gain access to chemotherapy drugs and other diagnostic procedures for free. She was subsequently disqualified when after 9 months in the trial her chest tumors stopped responding to the drug. It was at this point where FUDA Cancer Hospital in Guangzhou, China, was considered, as it was recommended by relatives and other patients in St. Lukes. From January to March 2011, Jo spent her days at FUDA Cancer Hospital receiving treatment. The cryosurgery and nano-chemotherapy done on her effected significant improvements much more than what her year of chemo achieved. She was supposed to come back last March for another round of nano-chemo but the expenses have caught up with her and her family.


Jo has not been receiving any form of treatment since.



Currently, she is suffering tremendous pains from the bone and skin metastases which leave her with open sores on the chest. The advanced treatments that FUDA hospital offers are her best and last recourse.



The event is in cooperation with Wharf Galley Rock Café, Writers Gig, Sangguniang Panlungsod-Naga, and Councilors Nathan Sergio and Cecilia de Asis.




--Jose Jason L. Chancoco and Buboy Aguay

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Patent for Layout Design of Integrated Circuits

The Living Letter by Alvin J. Buenaventura of FILCOLS
Translated from Filipino by Beverly W. Siy

Creations of the human mind are called Intellectual Property or IP. There are two kinds of IP: the copyright and the industrial property. Under the industrial property is a branch called patent. It is the right and the protection given by the government to inventors and their inventions.


Play Station, cellphone, laptop, fuel injected car, PCOS machine and space shuttle.

What do they have in common?

Easy.

Microchips.

Microchip is that tiny piece of semiconductor material that carry integrated circuit. That’s why microchip is also known as IC or integrated circuit. It is the driving force behind the electronic gadgets and machines that were mentioned above.

Before microchips were born, lots of vacuum tubes were needed just to make an electrical appliance like television work. You may want to check the TV of your father-in-law. All you have to do is pry it open and check all the tubes inside.

Vacuum tubes use up a lot of electricity and heat up easily. So they were replaced by transistors which are incredibly smaller than the tubes. They are as small and thin as worms. They come in different colors. You may want to check the radio of your father-in-law. You’ll be surprised to find a city of colorful worms called transistors waiting for you.


Eventually, it was the integration of transistors in a super small chip that changed the lives of the electronic gadgets and machines forever. A single chip, (the inedible one, my friend) the size of a stamp can contain millions of transistors. This is the reason why cellphones as small as a child’s palm can be used to make and receive calls, to listen to the radio, to add, subtract, multiply and divide numbers through its calculator and to take pictures and videos. Cellphones can also contain loads of data like names, messages, images, audio files and many more.

Microchips last longer than vacuum tubes and they don’t eat up a lot of electricity. That’s plus points for the microchip.

The designs of IC can be protected through patent. The patent can last for 10 years. The lay out or the design of the integrated circuits is the reason why a gadget works the way it does.

The owner of the patent is the only authorized person/company to manufacture a certain design of IC. It goes on for ten years. The owner may also opt to authorize another person/company to manufacture it as long as it is within ten years since the patent was registered. It cannot be renewed after this period of time. Other people or company will already be permitted to use the IC design or copy/duplicate it.

Our world changed dramatically because IC. Communications and the exchange of information became faster than ever. Unfortunately, miscommunications and exchange of false information became more frequent and speedier as well.

Through the use of cellphone, people gathered easily and fast in EDSA to oust a rotten head of state. Because of the perpetuation of new gadgets, more jobs were created and more families were able to benefit from them.

PCOS machines helped the government in producing more credible election results. The election results were also produced faster than before.

And to top it all, these are just a few of the things that ICs and IP can do.
In the next leaf of The Living Letter, patents for new kinds of plants will be presented and discussed. Stay with us and don’t g(r)o(w). Just yet.

Authors, publishers or heirs of copyright owners are invited to join FILCOLS. We will help you protect your copyright over your works. To join, one only needs to have published works, or one needs to be the heirs of an author or has the right to manage the rights of an author. Membership is free. If you have queries, email us at filcols@gmail.com.

UP's Palihang Rogelio Sicat and FILCOLS Receive Donation

The 4th Palihang Rogelio Sicat (PRS) through Filipinas Copyright Licensing Society (FILCOLS) receive donation from commercial and academic publishers.

Here are those who responded to the call for book donation for the public schools of Cavite and the fellows of PRS:

DLSU's Malate through Joanna Paula Queddeng, EIC
ATeneo's Heights through Joseph Immanuel Casimiro, EIC
UP Sentro ng Wikang Filipino through Jovy Peregrino, Director
Adarna House through Emelina Almario, President
UST's Commerce Journal through Kent Jason Cheng, EIC
St. Mary's Publication through Jerry Vicente Catabijan, President
Vibal Publishing through Rio Brigino, Head of Communications Department
UST's Research Cluster for Culture, Education and Social Issues through Dr. Alvin Ang, Head of the RCCESI
UST's Intellectual Property and Research, Office of the Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs and Research through Michael Jorge Peralta, Head of IP and R
A-Z Direct Marketing through Bienvenido Angeles, President
National Book Development Board through Glenn Malimban, OIC of Projects Division
Private collection of Abdon Balde, Jr.


The University of the Philippines Diliman’s Department of Filipino and Philippine Literature spearheads the workshop in cooperation with the Cavite Young Writers’ Association. PRS is the only national writers workshop conducted purely in Filipino, the national language. It will be held on 26 – 29 Mayo 2011 in Alfonso Hotel, Alfonso, Cavite. Fifteen writers from all over the Philippines have been selected to join PRS as fellows.

Workshop faculty members include Efren Abueg, Rogelio Ordoñez, and Elmer Ordoñez. Abueg and R. Ordoñez were pioneers of the illustrious literary group Agos. E. Ordoñez is a known writer and literary scholar in English.

Teachers who are based in Cavite are invited to join PRS as observers of the workshop proper and audience of the talks on Saturday, 28 May 2011 from 8:00 am to 5:00 p.m. Pre-registration is required. Certificates will be awarded to those who will attend. Please contact Bebang Siy at 0919-3175708 or filcols@gmail.com.

Palihang Rogelio Sicat sa Alfonso, Cavite Idaraos

Mula sa halos 100 aplikante, napili na ang 15 lalahok para sa Ika-apat na Palihang Rogelio Sicat (PRS IV).

Ang mga lalahok sa natatanging pambansang palihan sa malikhaing pagsulat sa wikang pambansa ay sina: (Tula) Philip Anorico, Joshua Diokno, Lolito Go, Ram Hernandez, Louie Jon Sanches, Randel Urbano, Jenny Whil Mesiera Valenzuela; (Mailing Kuwento) Patricia Ruth B. Cailao, Mary Deane Camua, Jesus Catigan Insilada, Pia Montalban, Anna Cristina G. Nadora, Renato R. Santillan, Karl Ivan Dan V. Orit; (Sanaysay) Ipelineo Soco.

Sina Efren Abueg, Rogelio Ordoñez, at Elmer Ordoñez, pawang mga pangunahing “Marami ang mahuhusay na entry sa record-breaking na bilang ng mga lumahok ngayon. Gayumpaman, labinlima lamang ang slots ng workshop,” ayon kay Dr. Jimmuel Naval, Tagapangulo ng Departamento ng Filipino at Panitikan ng Pilipinas (DFPP) ng Unibersidad ng Pilipinas at Direktor ng Palihan.

manunulat mula sa Cavite ay ang mga panauhing tagapagsalita at panelists ng palihan. Ang iba pang panelist ng palihan ay bahagi ng kaguruan ng DFPP tulad nina Jun Cruz Reyes, Rosario Torres-Yu, Bernadette Neri at Luna Sicat-Cleto na dadalo rin bilang kinatawan ng pamilyang Sicat, ang pamilya ng haligi ng panitikang Filipino na si Rogelio Sicat. Magbibigay naman ng panayam sina Abdon Balde, Jr. ukol sa pagsusulat sa popular na anyo at Alvin Buenaventura ng FILCOLS, ukol sa copyright at mga kaugnay na karapatan ng mga manunulat at publisher.

Ang DFPP at ang Cavite Young Writers’ Association ang pangunahing tagapagtaguyod ng PRS IV. Gaganapin ang PRS IV sa Alfonso Hotel, Alfonso, Cavite sa 26-29 ng Mayo.

“Sa halos 100 lahok, marami ang nagmula sa labas ng Metro Manila. May mula pa sa Cagayan de Oro at Davao, Iloilo at Negros, Kabikulan at Hilagang Luzon,” dagdag pa ni Prop. Reuel Molina Aguila, Direktor ng Palihan.

Inaasahang darating ang ilang kasapi ng CYWA sa ikatlong araw ng palihan upang maging bahagi rin ng espesyal na palihan para sa kanila. Maging ang mga guro mula sa Cavite ay iniimbitahan na dumalo sa ikatlong araw na ito upang makinig at mag-observe. Para sa mga gurong interesado sa paglahok, mag-email lamang sa filcols@gmail.com.

Katuwang ng DFPP at CYWA sina Congressman Roy M. Loyola ng ikalimang distrito ng Cavite, Governor Juanito Victor Remulla, Jr. at marami pang organisasyon at politikong may pagkiling sa pagpapalago ng panitikan at kulturang Filipino kabilang na Responde Cavite at ang Filipinas Copyright Licensing Society o FILCOLS.


Isinulat nina Reuel Aguila at Beverly W. Siy.

National Book Development Trust Fund for Filipino Authors Submission Guidelines

The National Book Development Board (NBDB) is calling upon authors with manuscripts for books with the following topics to apply for grants:

Health and Wellness;
Environment and Biodiversity; and
An English translation of a novel originally written in a regional language or a novel originally written in English satisfying the conditions provided for in the Implementing Rules of RA 9521. Priority will be given to works in translation.

All applicants must note the conditions provided for in Rule VI Section 3 of the Implementing Rules and Guidelines of RA 9521 (go to www.nbdb.gov.ph for the IRR).

2. The deadline for the submission of proposals/applications for a grant shall be August 15, 2011.

3. All manuscripts should be in 12-point type, with at least one-inch margins, and sequentially numbered pages in 8 ½” x 11” bond paper in triplicate copies. A digital copy should also be included in the submission. The author’s name, address, telephone number, and email address should be typed at the top of the first page. Contributors are asked to include a brief biographical note with their submissions.

4. Chosen authors will be given a grant of P200,000.00 each. Grantees will be announced during Philippine Book November 2011 or on a suitable date chosen by the NBDB.

5. Should there be no manuscript of good quality as determined by constituted advisory committees on the chosen topics, the NBDB reserves the right not to award a grant to any applicant.


Requirements:

A duly accomplished Application Form

The applicant’s curriculum vitae (in the case of a juridical entity, its SEC, BIR, DTI and/or CDA registrations, as may be applicable, and the curriculum vitas of the authors of the proposed project);

A sworn statement indicating that the applicant’s project is an original and unpublished work, and that the applicant has authored/produced the work;

A proposal on the project to be undertaken; and

Either of the following:

Triplicate copies and a digital copy of a draft equivalent to twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the entire manuscript, research or multimedia work in progress; or
Triplicate copies and a digital of a draft of the manuscript, research or multimedia work to be rewritten or improved upon prior to publication (such as, but not limited to, a thesis or dissertation to be rewritten into book form)

For further requirements, refer to the Rules and Regulations Implementing Republic Act No. 9521 which may be downloaded from www.nbdb.gov.ph.

This article was reposted with permission from the NBDB.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Buhay na Titik: WIPO Internet Treaties

ni Alvin J. Buenaventura ng FILCOLS


WIPO Internet Treaties


Tanong: Bakit nga ba nauso ang paggamit ng seat belt?



Sagot: Dahil sa isang batas na nagkabisa noong 1999.



Matapos ang mahabang debate ng mga mambabatas, ang Republic Act 8750 ay ipinasa, isinulat sa papel, inilimbag sa mga diyaryo, at binigyang-kapangyarihan ang mga pulis na ipatupad ang batas.



Dahil sa bagong teknolohiya, dumami ang mabibilis na sasakyan. Nilaparan din ang mga kalye. At nagsimulang lumipad ang mga sasakyan. Dumami ang naaksidente, naospital, at lumanding sa sementeryo.



Kailangan ng seat belt para sa proteksiyon ng publiko. Para sa hospital bed na lang abutin ang mga naaaksidente imbes na sa ataol.



Ganito rin ang background ng WIPO Internet Treaties. Ang WIPO o World Intellectual Property Organization ay isang specialized agency ng United Nations. Ang mga miyembro nito ay ang mga gobyerno ng iba’t ibang bansa. Layon ng WIPO na ma-develop ang IP bilang tagapagsulong ng economic development ng mga bansa.



Dati ay mabagal ang takbo ng lahat ng information dahil walang internet at walang personal computer. Dahil sa bagong teknolohiya, dumami ang mga personal computer. Lumapad ang information superhighway na kilala bilang Internet. Nagsimulang bumilis ang lipad ng information na matatagpuan sa mga libro, music, movie, at software. Dumami ang naluging authors at publishers dahil wala na silang kita mula sa kanilang produkto. Marami ang nagsara. Meron ding sa sementeryo ng bankrupt businesses na lang inabutan ng huling hininga.



Kailangan ng “seat belt” para sa proteksiyon ng copyright owners at ng publiko. Ito ay para ma-access ng publiko legally ang copyrighted works at kumita naman ang authors sa kanilang gawa. Balanced approach kumbaga.



Siya namang pasok ng WIPO Internet Treaties. Ito ay binubuo ng WIPO Copyright Treaty at ng WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty. Noong 2002 ipinatupad ito at inatasan ang mga bansang kasapi na bigyang-proteksiyon ang authors ngayong digital age.




Binigyang-focus uli ng dalawang treaties ang pagrespeto at pagbibigay-proteksiyon sa reproduction rights ng authors lalo na sa digital environment. Hindi porke't mabilis na ang transfer ng files sa internet ay mabilis na ring mababalewala at matatapakan ang karapatan ng authors.



Isa sa mahahalagang ipinagtibay ng Internet Treaties ay ang karapatan ng author na malagyan ng protection measures ang kanilang mga gawa. At ang “hacking” ay isang paglabag sa karapatan ng authors. Ang hacking ay puwersahang pagbubukas ng pinto para magamit ang copyrighted works tulad ng movies, music, at software nang walang karampatang bayad. Highway robbery, ika nga.



Dahil sa WIPO Internet Treaties maraming bansa ang nagpasa ng mga bagong batas para sa proteksiyon ng authors. Ginawang krimen ang hacking. Ipinauso ang respect for human rights ng authors sa loob ng Internet.



Tandaan: dapat mangibabaw ang respect for human rights ng authors nasa pisikal na mundo o digital world ka man.



Inaanyayahan ang mga awtor, publisher, o tagapagmana ng copyright na sumali sa FILCOLS. Ito’y para mabigyang proteksiyon ang kanilang mga akda. Kailangan lamang ay mayroon kayong published works kung kayo ay awtor/publisher o nasa inyo ang kapangyarihang magmanage kung heirs kayo ng awtor. Wala pong membership fee. Kung may tanong hinggil sa tinalakay na paksa, mag-email lamang sa filcols@gmail.com.

Thursday, May 12, 2011

Patent for Industrial Designs

13 May 2011

The Living Letter by Alvin J. Buenaventura of FILCOLS
Translated from Filipino by Beverly W. Siy


Creations of the human mind are called Intellectual Property or IP. There are two kinds of IP: the copyright and the industrial property. Under the industrial property is a branch called patent. It is the right and the protection given by the government to inventors and their inventions.

Industrial designs are also given patent. What is an industrial design? It is the combination of certain colors, shapes, textures and others that serve as a pattern in an industrial product or a handicraft. This is what makes a product look cool.

Most of the time, it’s the unique form/appearance of a product that entices the consumer to buy the product. It is usually the reason why products become a hit.

Examples of industrial designs are: shape of the Coke bottle; designs of popular gadgets like iPod, iPhone, and iPad; designs of watches like Swatch and TechnoMarine; designs of rubber shoes like Nike, Adidas, Bata, World Balance, Advan, and more.

The most popular beetle-shape model of Volkswagen car is an example of product that became very successful because of its appearance. It is considered an icon in the world of design.

It was in 1933 when Adolf Hitler asked Ferdinand Porsche to manufacture a car for the common people. Porsche owns a car manufacturing company in Germany. It was Hitler’s dream for every German to have his/her own car. One of Hitler’s requirements regarding the design of the car was enough space for a family of five. The father and the mother must have seats in front while three children sit comfortably at the back. Hitler also insisted that the car must be affordable for the common German citizen.


Porsche immediately talked to his chief designer, Erwin Komenda, about it. And Komenda was able to produce a design for the car of the Germany’s common folks. Volkswagen was born. It came from the German words volks which means common people and wagen which means wagon or vehicle/carrier. So, the rumors that it was Hitler who designed the popular beetle-shaped car is so not true.

A total of 21 million units of Volkswagen were produced and sold. A lot of families were able to take advantage of the Volkswagen’s price and availability. The industry that Volkswagen created produced jobs and livelihood for the factory workers, suppliers, car dealers and other allied businesses that grew in the context of the Volkswagen success. This industry also stirred trading with other countries for the cars’ engine, lighting needs, cables, mirrors, car seats, radiators, disc brakes, stick shifts, steering wheels, wheels and other components to manufacture or repair the Volkswagen. People who were involved in the paint and oil/fuel industries benefitted from this industry as well.

All these just from one’s creativity. From one’s design. An intellectual property.

Creations of human mind or IP can uplift people’s lives. They can make a country flourish as well.

The beetle-shape design of a car also generates a lot of important memories for many people. It wasn’t just a car. It was a memento of an era. Volkswagen inspired the creation of numerous books, movies and songs. IP gives birth to more IPs.

One of the inventions that have a big time effect on us was the computer. In the next issue, the patent for the layout design of integrated circuits found in computers will be discussed. So don’t miss it!

Authors, publishers or heirs of copyright owners are invited to join FILCOLS. We will help you protect your copyright over your works. To join, one only needs to have published works, or one needs to be the heirs of an author or has the right to manage the rights of an author. Membership is free. If you have queries, email us at filcols@gmail.com.

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

PATENT and NEW MODELS OR DESIGNS

The Living Letter by Alvin J. Buenaventura of FILCOLS
Translated from Filipino by Beverly W. Siy

Patent for Small Innovations or Improvement of Inventions
Creations of the human mind are called Intellectual property or IP.

There are two kinds of IP: the copyright and the industrial property. Under the industrial property is a branch called patent. It is the right and the protection given by the government to inventors and their inventions.

There are two kinds of inventions: 1. Product
2. Process

These inventions give answers or solution to various problems of the mankind.

An example of an invented product is the reusable coffin by Antonio Andes, Sr. of Taguig City. Here is an invented process: Dr. Ramon Barba’s process of watering the mango trees that involves water mixed with potassium nitrate. The mixture is sprayed onto the mango trees. The process helps the trees bear flowers and fruits faster than usual.

Andes’ invention, the reusable coffin, is actually made up of two coffins. The first one is made of wood and the other is made of steel. The one that is made of steel is what visitors and mourners will see from the outside. Towards the end of the burial ceremony, it is the wooden coffin that will be put inside the tomb.

The steel coffin is, again, clean and ready to go for the next customer. (If you wish, you may enlist your father-in-law now for future availment of this product.)
The invention of Andes is very useful and a problem-solver for a dead man’s poor family. It saves them a lot of money because wooden coffin is much cheaper. All they have to do is rent the steel coffin. It’s also cheaper to rent the steel coffin than buy a traditional one. (If I were you, I would already be falling in line to enlist my father-in-law for this kind of invention.)

But wait, there’s more! Mary Ann, daughter of Andes, creates designs for the steel coffin. It is made up of images that evoke happiness. So the coffin looks more exciting than before. After some time, Andes added another innovation in his invention. He believed that a wake or a funeral becomes more intimate and personal if the mourners can listen to favorite music and videos of the person who passed away. So he thought of putting an LCD screen and a music player on the coffin. The grieving family may also opt to show the videos of their demised loved one through the LCD screen.

Mary Ann’s design, the LCD and the music player are just small innovations of the original invention. Even if these are just innovations, the government still gives them protection through patent. Industrial designs are also given patent.


On the next issue of Perlas ng Silangan Balita, layout designs of integrated circuits and new kinds of plants will be discussed.


Authors, publishers or heirs of copyright owners are invited to join FILCOLS. We will help you protect your copyright over your works. To join, one only needs to have published works, or one needs to be the heirs of an author or has the right to manage the rights of an author. Membership is free. If you have queries, email us at filcols@gmail.com.

Buhay na Titik: World Trade Organization at TRIPS Agreement

ni Alvin J. Buenaventura ng FILCOLS


World Trade Organization at TRIPS Agreement


Huwag kang gagawa nang masama sa kapwa mo dahil hindi mo rin magugustuhan kung ikaw naman ang gagawan nang masama. Ito ay mas kilala bilang Golden Rule na itinuro ng mga banal tulad nina Buddha at Hesus.

Ang Golden Rule ay may bersiyon na siyang pundasyon ng mga international treaty. Ito ay kilala bilang National Treatment principle.

Ayon sa National Treatment principle, ang mga bansang pumirma sa international treaty ay handang magbigay-proteksiyon sa mga foreigner katulad ng proteksiyong ibinibigay nito sa sariling mamamayan. At dahil lahat ng bansang miyembro ng treaty ay sumusunod sa Golden Rule, masaya ang lahat ng mga mamamayan.

Ang World Trade Organization ay itinatag sa ganitong paniniwala noong 1995. Ang miyembro ng WTO ay hindi individuals kundi mga gobyernong nakikipagkalakalan sa isa’t isa.

Ang WTO ang pangunahing organisasyon na naglalatag ng rules pagdating sa global trade. Dahil may rules na gagabay sa lahat ng miyembro, nagiging maayos ang daloy ng kalakalan.

Kung meron mang problemang makaharap ang pamahalaan ng bawat bansa, puwedeng magreklamo ang mga ito sa WTO. Katulad lang sa barangay hall natin kung saan maayos na napapag-usapan ang problema na nabibigyan ng solusyon na tanggap ng lahat.

Ang pagtatayo ng WTO bilang hingahan ng hinaing ng mga bansa ay nagdudulot ng kapayapaan. Isa sa mga dahilan ng pagsiklab ng World War II ay ang di pagkakasundo sa pakikipagkalakalan ng mga bansa. Kanya-kanyang proteksiyon sa kanya-kanyang kalakal. At dahil walang constructive dialogue ay nauwi ang lahat sa gera.

Sa kasalukuyan, pinagtuunang pansin ng WTO ang intellectual property o IP bilang bagong source ng kayamanan ng mga bansa. Ang mga produkto at serbisyo mula sa IP ang siyang pangunahing laman ng international trade tulad ng gamot, software, computers, cellphones, libro, music, movies, at iba pa.

Dahil dito, nabuo ang Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of IP Rights. Mas kilala ito bilang TRIPS Agreement. Isa sa tinatalakay dito ay ang laganap na kalakalan ng pekeng goods. Ang mga pekeng produkto ay nakakapagpabagsak sa economy ng mga bansa at nakakadagdag sa kahirapan dahil ang local industries ay hindi lumalago. Pag walang local business, walang trabaho, walang kita.

Nasa TRIPS Agreement din ang copyright and related rights. Muling pinaalalahanan dito ang mga bansang kasapi at lumagda dito na bigyang-respeto at sapat na proteksiyon ang mga author at iba pang may-ari ng copyright.

Mahalagang mabigyan ng respeto ang lahat ng mga author. Dahil gusto nating respetuhin din ng mga foreigner ang gawa nating mga Pinoy sa abroad. Kabuhayan ng authors ang gumawa ng libro. Dapat silang mabigyan ng just payment para sa kanilang mga akda.

Isabuhay natin ang Golden Rule.

Igalang natin ang National Treatment.

Inaanyayahan ang mga awtor, publisher, o tagapagmana ng copyright na sumali sa FILCOLS. Ito’y para mabigyang proteksiyon ang kanilang mga akda. Kailangan lamang ay mayroon kayong published works kung kayo ay awtor/publisher o nasa inyo ang kapangyarihang magmanage kung heirs kayo ng awtor. Wala pong membership fee. Kung may tanong hinggil sa tinalakay na paksa, mag-email lamang sa filcols@gmail.com.

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

FILCOLS Publisher/Members Sign Integrity Pledge

Two FILCOLS Publisher/Members, National Book Store and St. Mary’s Publishing, signed this month the “Integrity Pledge,” a document which calls on businessmen to observe ethical business practices and good corporate governance.

There were a total of fourteen signatories from the book publishing namely Socorro Ramos of National Book Store chain, Bienvenido Tan of Bookmark, Marily Orosa, President of Studio 5 Designs Publishing, Rhodora de Leon, Marketing Manager of Gabay Eskuwela Publishing House, Rossana Llenado, President of Ahead Books and Things Enterprises, Deo Alvarez, General Manager of Atlas Publishing Company, Conchita Ramirez, Assistant General Manager of Brown Madonna Press, Doroteo Gerardo Alanguilan, Jr., Owner of Komikero Publishing, Jerry Vicente Catabijan, President of St. Mary’s Publishing Corporation, Rebecca Veloso, President of Studio Graphics Corporation, Elizabeth Ocampo,General Manager of Wiseman’s Books Trading, Jigger Latoza, Director of the University of San Agustin-Iloilo Center for Research and Publications, Olivia Limpe-Aw of Foresight Books Publishing and Distribution Co., and Paul Aragones of OMF Literature, Inc.

The Integrity Pledge specifically binds business owners andmanagers to “prohibit bribery in any form in all activities under their control and ensure that their charitable and political contributions, business gifts,and sponsorships are transparent and will not be for the purpose of attempting to influence the recipient, whether government or private, into an improper exercise of functions duties or judgment.”

FILCOLS invites all publishing companies to join Filipinas Copyright Licensing Society, an organization of writers and publishers. Membership is free of charge. Please contact us at filcols@gmail.com or 746-7162 or 747-9250 local 401.

This article was revised and lifted with permission from nbdb.gov.ph.

FILCOLS’ Huntahan with Rex Authors Slated on 21 May 2011

The latest FILCOLS Huntahan will be held at the ACCI Building, Palma St. corner Rockwell Drive, Makati City on 21 May 2011, 2:00 p.m. Alvin Buenaventura, the Executive Director of Filipinas Copyright Licensing Society (FILCOLS) and Atty. Mark Robert Dy of Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines will give a talk on basics of copyright, intellectual property and the economic rights of writers and publishers.

The audience will be authors from Rex Book Store, Inc., one of the largest publishers of text books and law books in the Philippines.

An interesting question and answer will surely follow after the talks. Most of the authors come from the law profession.

Publishing companies are invited to hold FILCOLS Huntahan for the company's authors. Please get in touch with us at filcols@gmail.com or 746-7162 or 7479250 local 401. FILCOLS Huntahan is free and open to all interested parties.

FILCOLS at the 4th Palihang Rogelio Sicat of UP






The 4th Palihang Rogelio Sicat (PRS) includes a talk on copyright and intellectual property on 28 May 2011. The speaker will be Alvin J. Buenaventura, the Executive Director of Filipinas Copyright Licensing Society (FILCOLS). He will be discussing basics of copyright, intellectual property and the economic rights of writers.

The University of the Philippines Diliman’s Department of Filipino and Philippine Literature spearheads the workshop in cooperation with the Cavite Young Writers’ Association. PRS is the only national writers workshop conducted purely in Filipino, the national language. It will be held on 26 – 29 Mayo 2011 in Alfonso Hotel, Alfonso, Cavite. Fifteen writers from all over the Philippines will be selected to join PRS as fellows.

Workshop faculty members include Efren Abueg, Rogelio Ordoñez, and Elmer Ordoñez. Abueg and R. Ordoñez were pioneers of the illustrious literary group Agos. E. Ordoñez is a known writer and literary scholar in English.

Teachers who are based in Cavite are invited to join PRS as observers of the workshop proper and audience of the talks on Saturday, 28 May 2011 from 8:00 am to 5:00 p.m. Pre-registration is required. Certificates will be awarded to those who will attend. Please contact Bebang Siy at 0919-3175708 or filcols@gmail.com.

Friday, May 6, 2011

FILCOLS BOARD OF DIRECTORS

ISAGANI R. CRUZ - Chair
Author

KARINA A. BOLASCO - Vice-Chair
Local Trade Books Publisher

LIRIO P. SANDOVAL -Treasurer
Book Development Association of the Philippines

JAVIER P. FLORES- Corporate Secretary

GEMINO H. ABAD- Member
Author

ABDON M. BALDE, JR. - Member
Author

MARIANO L. KILATES- Member
Author

CHARLSON L. ONG- Member
Author

JOSE PAOLO M. SIBAL - Member
Local Trade Books Publisher

ROLANDO R. DE VERA- Member
Foreign Books Publisher, Representative

VIRGILIO S. ALMARIO- Chairman Emeritus
Author, National Artist for Literature

In the Philippines, the establishment of a licensing or collecting society is sanctioned under SEC. 183 of Rep. Act No. 8293 also known as Intellectual Property Code

“The copyright owners or their heirs may designate a society of artists, writers or composers to enforce their economic rights and moral rights on their behalf.

"RIZAL : HALIGI NG BAYAN"

The National Library of the Philippines joins the nation in celebration of the
150th Birth Anniversary of Dr. Jose Rizal with the theme:

"RIZAL : HALIGI NG BAYAN"


One of our activities is the JUNE 2011 STORYTELLING SESSIONS entitled " KUWENTO MO, SULAT NI RIZAL" which will feature different stories about Dr. Jose Rizal, a sure fun way to introduce the life and works of our national hero to Filipino children.

We invite kids, parents and teachers to come and join in this activity.


For more information, please call at 525-0926 look for Ms. Melai.

Open Call for Manuscript Submissions – Vee Press

Submission Guidelines:




Vee Press is accepting submissions for our upcoming e-book line. We are actively seeking talented writers who have completed a novel-length manuscript or have written more than 10 chapters of an ongoing work. Writers who are willing to work with us through our fast-paced publishing cycle are especially welcome.



We are considering both popular non-fiction and fiction titles on any topic, with a great preference for plots or subjects that concern the Philippines and its culture. Both non-professional and established authors are welcome, but any work submitted to us must not have been previously published, including self-publishing, in print or online. Self-published works are considered published.



We are looking for:

Manuscripts with a projected length of between 60,000 and 75,000 words. We are currently not considering works that go above the maximum word count, but we will consider pitches for potential series.

A fresh premise that can be conveyed as a paragraph-length (5 sentences maximum) pitch.

Non-fiction that takes a popular (mainstream, non-academic) approach on their subject matter.

For fiction, works in any genre that mix engaging storytelling with exciting plot and compelling characters.



Further guidelines:

Please make sure the copyright and publishing rights are not owned by other parties. Unpublished manuscripts optioned by companies or organizations are not up for consideration.

Works that are based on material (television, literature, etc.) that have not entered public domain are not accepted.

If excerpts of the work have been previously published, we ask the authors to include this information upon submission.

Submission Requirements:



Email the complete manuscript and a full synopsis (beginning to end) as Microsoft Word (*.doc) attachments to kautencio@vibalfoundation.org. The manuscript and synopsis should be two separate files. Please make sure that the file extension is not *.docx or any other variation.

The manuscript should be set in either 12 point Courier New or 14 point Times New Roman, with double-spaced lines. Margins should be set at 1 inch on all sides. Please do not include page numbers, headers or footers in your manuscript.

In the body of your email include a brief description of the novel, estimated word count, and your publishing history (if any) such as previous books, awards, and quotes from other authors or reviews.

Include the working title and your name in the email’s subject line.

Authors who intend to publish using a pseudonym are still required to furnish us with the information mentioned above.

For more inquiries, contact Kristel Autencio at kautencio@vibalfoundation.org or call the Vibal Foundation office at 416-840-60.

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Buhay na Titik: Universal Copyright Convention

ni Alvin J. Buenaventura ng FILCOLS


Universal Copyright Convention


May na-encounter akong mga tao na hindi umaayon sa copyright dahil masyado umano itong mahigpit at nakapanig sa mga author.



Ang copyright ay isang uri ng proteksiyon na ibinibigay ng batas para sa mga author ng scientific, literary, at artistic works. Ang copyright ay isang bundle of rights at nahahati sa dalawang grupo ang mga karapatan na ito: moral rights at economic rights. Ang moral rights ay para mabigyan ng tamang respeto at pagkilala ang author bilang pinagmulan ng gawa o akda. At ang economic rights naman ay para kumita sila sa kanilang mga akda o likha at para ma-encourage pa ang pagdami ng mga bago at de kalidad na akda o likha.



Ang disagreements ukol sa copyright ay laganap hindi lamang ngayon kundi laganap din halos 50 taon na ang nakakalipas. May mga miyembro ng United Nations tulad ng Pilipinas at iba pang developing nations na hindi umaayon sa copyright protection na nakasaad sa Berne Convention.



Ayon sa mga hindi maka-Berne, ang copyright protection mula sa international document ay masyadong nakapanig sa mga bansang maunlad at kadalasang matatagpuan sa West. Ang mga bansang ito ang nangungunang publishers ng mga produktong may copyright tulad ng libro at nakakalat sa maraming market.



Dahil dito ay gumawa ng hakbang ang United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization o UNESCO upang matipon at mapapayag ang mga bansa. Kaya noong 1952 ay nagkasundo ang mga bansa sa nabuong international document na tinawag na Universal Copyright Convention. Ito ay katuwang ng Berne Convention sa mga usapin ukol sa copyright. Pumirma dito ang Pilipinas noong 1955.



Nakasaad sa Article 1 na ang mga bansang pumirma ay pumapayag na “magbigay ng sapat at epektibong proteksiyon sa mga karapatan ng authors at iba pang may-ari ng copyright sa literary, scientific at artistic works kasama ang writings, musical, dramatic at gawang cinematographic o pelikula, mga painting, engraving, at sculpture.”



Kahit na may disagreement ay nagkasundo pa rin ang mga bansa dahil ang copyright ay mahalaga sa pagpapakita ng paggalang sa mga karapatan ng indibidwal at tumutulong sa paglilinang ng panitikan, mga agham at sining.



Hindi man tayo umaayon sa mahigpit na copyright, dapat na lang na umayon tayong respetuhin ang mga author dahil tao sila. Hindi naman maganda na one way lang ang respeto. Ikaw lang ang rerespetuhin pero ang iba ay puwedeng balewalain na lang at di bigyan ng katulad na pagrespeto.



Tumulong tayo sa paglago ng mga akda at gawa sa pamamagitan ng pagtangkilik sa librong isinulat ng mga Pinoy. Huwag nating tangkilikin ang pirated goods dahil hindi ito nakakatulong sa ating mga author. Sa madaling salita, payag akong hindi ka umaayon sa copyright pero tumulong ka sa paglago ng panitikan at kultura ng bansa.



Inaanyayahan ang mga awtor, publisher, o tagapagmana ng copyright na sumali sa FILCOLS. Ito’y para mabigyang proteksiyon ang kanilang mga akda. Kailangan lamang ay mayroon kayong published works kung kayo ay awtor/publisher o nasa inyo ang kapangyarihang magmanage kung heirs kayo ng awtor. Wala pong membership fee. Kung may tanong hinggil sa tinalakay na paksa, mag-email lamang sa filcols@gmail.com.

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Post-event FILCOLS Huntahan sa Cavite-16 Oktubre 2010












FILCOLS HUNTAHAN IN CAVITE

FILCOLS Huntahan in Cavite was held last 16 October 2010 at 2:00 p.m. in Espasyo Siningdikato, Brgy. Sta. Fe, Dasmarinas City.

The event, an informal discussion about writing, publishing, copyright and IP was well attended by young writers, artists and performers from Cavite and nearby towns. Representatives from Lyceum of the Philippines Cavite, Cavite State University, Tanghalang Pascual Poblete, De La Salle University Dasmariñas, Heraldo Filipino, campus paper of DLSU-D, Bayang Dakila Information and Media Center, Closet Lifestyle, The Sebastinian Publications, campus paper of San Sebastian College-Recoletos of Cavite, Cavite Young Writers Association and Siningdikato were present.

At exactly 2:00 p.m., Mary Anne Jimenez-Salvador of Siningdikato, one of the event’s partners, welcomed the guests and participants not only to the event but to Espasyo Siningdikato as well. Espasyo Siningdikato is an art gallery run by Siningdikato, an organization of Cavite-based visual artists. One of the organization’s aims is to help the art scene in this side of Luzon by providing a venue to exhibit and share works and philosophies regarding the arts. Espasyo had been a venue of art exhibits, book/literary folio launchings, poetry readings and other cultural events.

Ainne Frances Dela Cruz, a member of the Cavite Young Writers Association Board of Directors, gave a message about being a partner for the day’s event. CYWA is an organization of writers from the province of Cavite. Since its inception in 2004, it has been serving the Cavite literary scene through publication of works about Cavite, writing workshops, literary seminars and lectures and literary performances.

Atty. Louie C. Calvario followed by introducing the Copyright Support Services of Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines. He discussed the basics of copyright and intellectual property as well. One of his statements was “Ang tao, hindi nabubuhay nang walang property.” It was to emphasize the need to acknowledge the importance of IP as a person’s property.

A short cultural presentation followed. Lhorvie Ann Nuevo from Tanghalang Pascual Poblete, performed a dance choreographed by Urie Clamor. Snacks were served as the participants eagerly waited for the next speaker.

Then Alvin J. Buenaventura, the Executive Director of FILCOLS or Filipinas Copyright Licensing Society, started his talk on authors’ rights as a human right. According to him, “Artists, painters, dancers, writers are intellectual workers. They have their own body and family to feed. Kaya dapat silang bayaran para sa kanilang gawa.”

He said that this is the reason why reproduction rights organizations were established, to care and fight for the rights of copyright holders. “Writers get paid for the reproduction of their works. Photocopying is another form of reproduction of published works,” added Buenaventura.

Immediately after the talks came the question and answer portion of the program.

One of the questions was: are tag lines or one liner sentences copyrightable?

According to Atty. Calvario, they are not but these can be applied as trademark or service mark of a product or a service.

A very young writer shared that usually there are no contracts involved in negotiating with the publisher. She asked if the writer still has copyright over works that were given to publishers under this kind of situation.

Atty. Calvario noted that usually it’s the young writers who experience this. The young ones want to have their works published so most of the time, they just ignore the absence of a written contract. But for the established and popular writers, who are usually the old ones, they get to ask and demand from the publishers because they already have “clouts.”

He said that in the absence of written document or contract, the copyright reverts back to the creator. He also mentioned that having a contract doesn’t always mean that writers will get the best deal. “Ang mga kontrata ay ginagawa ng mga abogado para protektahan ang kanilang kliyente (publisher). Kadalasan, masalita at masalimuot at maliit ang font ng mga kontrata para hindi na maengganyo ang writer na basahin ito,” he warned the young writers.

A website content writer shared her heartaches about the website she’s writing for. The website gets recognized for having very well-written content. Unfortunately, writers are not allowed to put their bylines. She wanted to be recognized for her pieces.

Buenaventura advised her to put up her own website and post all of her pieces there especially the ones that were submitted to the website she mentioned. She can now put her name in the byline and be recognized for her talent. Unfortunately, she can do all of these only if she doesn’t have a written contract with the website owner/administrator that states the assignment of copyright of her works.

Someone asked about the copyright of a spoof of a popular art work. Atty. Calvario stated that there is no copyright infringement in doing a parody as long as the parody is a criticism of the original work. One must use the elements or parts of the original work to create a parody of it. In this case, the rights, especially the economic rights of the creator of the original work are still respected. The market of the original work and the market of the parody of a work are different anyway. Buenaventura added that parody is just a technical term for spoof.

More queries poured in and were answered. Soon the speakers realized that there wasn’t just enough time to answer everyone’s questions. They invited the participants to email their queries to filcols@gmail.com and louie.calvario@ipophil.gov.ph instead. They were very surprised and happy for the lively discussion. It really showed how interested these people were about protecting their rights as artists.

Certificates were awarded to all the participants and those who helped in the organization of the event like Ronald V. Verzo, a member of CYWA’s Board of Advisers.

Beverly Siy gave a word of thanks to the participants and partners CYWA and Siningdikato. She invited everyone to join FILCOLS as writers/members.

FILCOLS Huntahan in Cavite ended with a photo session of all the participants, partners and organizers of the event.

Post-event 1st FILCOLS Huntahan (with writers from TV and film industry) September 1, 2010









FILCOLS (Filipinas Copyright Licensing Society, Inc.) is a private non-profit corporation that aims to be the administrator of copyrights of literary, dramatic, educational and other artistic works including scientific creations on print.

Being the national RRO (reproduction rights organization), FILCOLS has bilateral agreements with foreign RROs. That means the extent of protection that it can give to authors is not limited to the Philippines only.

The officers of the SGP (Screenwriters’ Guild of the Philippines) were happy to be invited to the first of a series of consultation with the stakeholders. Also present was veteran writer Lualhati Bautista who hinted the suspected plagiarism on her book Desaparesidos.

Atty. Louie Calvario of IPO Philippines (Intellectual Property Rights Office) was the main speaker. The young lawyer provided a comprehensive orientation on copyrights by clearly identifying what and what cannot be protected.


It’s surprising to know that an Idea, Concept or Principle cannot be copyrighted. That includes systems and procedures, discoveries and even news. According to Atty. Calvario, what you can protect is the way the idea was expressed.

With focus on the script, plagiarism is very difficult to prove unless the written work was copied word for word. Same goes with books and periodicals, visual arts, photographs and even computer programs.

The creator has an inherent right to his original work. So when there is an infringement of that right, the creator only has to show proof of ownership like a copyright certificate. But Atty. Calvario admitted that a plagiarism case is hard to prove unless you have a ton of evidences.

FILCOLS executive director Alvin Buenaventura emphasized the desire of their organization to extend help to writers with copyright problems. FILCOLS also offered membership forms to the seminar attendees.

“This is just the start of our road-mapping,” says Alvin Buenaventura, the executive director of FILCOLS. He intimated that that it may take 5 years before the mechanism could be set up. Presently, FILCOLS is in the data gathering stage.


Instead of the closing remarks, Alvin had requested everyone to submit questions relevant to the subject of copyrights. Suggestions, questions and relevant matters can be e-mailed to filcols@gmail.com

Written by Alex Socorro.
Original post: filmacademyphil.org.
Photos courtesy of FILCOLS.