Globe Telecom partnered with the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) and four ISPs to fight back against piracy and protect intellectual property.
Neil Gane of the Motion Pictures Association said the MoU is a first in Asia and second in the world, pointing to a similar initiative in Germany where site-blocking process centres were found by ISPs and rights holders. This German model operates without government involvement.
The primary objective of this MoU in the Philippines is to establish a voluntary site-blocking practice against the sale and distribution of pirated content over the internet and encourage other stakeholders to join the initiative.
The MoU also outlines general principles and procedures for site blocking, while emphasising collaboration between ISPs and the IPOPHL.
Site blocking is being proposed for amendment to the Philippines IP code to Congress, stated Globe, and measures against piracy websites are currently mulled by the government.
“What we are doing today is such an important step in the absence of a site-blocking law. We are no longer tied up. We can do something about piracy,” said Globe Group chief sustainability and communications officer Yoly Crisanto.
“Just as we have taken our advocacy to such great lengths, we’re fully committed to stopping piracy. And hopefully, in the digital economy, the Philippines can start looking forward to a creative industry that is robust and free from all these challenges.”