Create and Play Smart: OPM and IPOPHL Host Basic IP Rights Discussion for Musicians

Last August 13, Organisasyon ng mga Pilipinong Mang-Aawit (OPM), in partnership with the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOHPL), delivered the concluding session to its Talk Series titled IP Rights for Musicians. More than a hundred participants joined the online talk, bringing together a community of passionate musicians eager to improve their intellectual property (IP) backgrounds.  

In introducing the basics of IP, Ms. Marilou Ilacio, IPR Specialist II of IPOPHL-BCRR, provided a concise summary of how intellectual property is defined and its general filing procedures. Her discussion proved to be a foundation to the succeeding key speakers’ topics as music created, in its essence, is intellectual property---a “creation of the mind,” as highlighted in her talk.  

Atty. Nicole Regencia then established copyright, one form of IP most applicable to the audience, as the cornerstone of her discussion. She explained the different types of rights involved in such, as well as certain exemptions to copyright law (e.g., fair use). In addition, it was highlighted that trying but being unable to secure permission from copyright owners (e.g., labels, performers, composers) does not serve as a free pass to use copyrighted material. This is where collective management organizations (CMOs) such as PRM come into play as duly designated enforcers of IP law and representatives of rights holders.  

To provide true-to-life examples of the copyright law’s application as the penultimate portion of the talk, Atty. Exequiel “Chuck” Valerio shared select cases across the globe centering on music, specifically composition, production, and usage. Notably, this topic sparked multiple questions from the audience who found similarities between those discussed and their own experiences. 

Francis Buen, PRM’s Head of Licensing, finally wrapped up the talk with a report on global, Southeast Asian, and Philippine music usage. It served as a suitable conclusion to the discussion, as it tied together the growing music landscape and the need for IP appreciation and protection. Once again, in ensuring that music rights owners are properly represented and rewarded, he underscored the role of CMOs to both creators and music consumers.  

As OPM’s Music Talk Series comes to a close, PRM is proud to have worked with such an advocacy-driven organization to equip musicians with the right understanding of the industry and its intricacies. True to its core, PRM remains steadfast in its goal to help music stakeholders flourish, continuously in pursuit of means to do so.  

Interested in learning more about your IP rights as a producer and/or performer yourself? Visit prm.com.ph or email us at info@prm.com.ph!