DTI calls on local artists to get copyright security

• Source: http://www.philstar.com/cebu-business/2015/06/26/1470116/dti-calls-local-artists-get-copyright-security
• Friday, June 26, 2015 12:00 am

By Ehda M. Dagooc (The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu creative industry players are encouraged to take copyright registration for their creations to accelerate the growth of the creative economy especially in Cebu and the rest of Central Visayas.

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI-7) regional director Asteria Caberte made this call yesterday on the sidelines of the 4th Southeast Asian Creative Cities Network Forum (SEACON X Cebu 2015), as innovation and protection of creations has become one of the critical factors that affect the movement of the creative economy.

Cebu, being positioned as the creative capital of the Philippines following the recognition given seven years ago by the British Council in its Creative Cities Program, should lead in the dynamism and promote professional and distinguished creative industry.

Although big companies like those that have made their brand names in the world and in the mainstream markets already have their copyright, trademark or patent, Caberte said some creative sector players who have potential to take significant role in the creative economy have yet to get their works, companies, and creations protected.

Now that rampant violation issues is apparent across the world, such as copying designs, and others, it is imperative for serious players to be professional in treating their works and getting copyright registration is just one part of the foundations in order to grab the multi-million-dollar opportunities in the creative industry, said Dimiter Gantchev, deputy director and head for creative industries section copyright infrastructure division of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

Gantchev, who was the keynote speaker during yesterday's SEACON X Cebu 2015), which carried the theme "Authentic-Cities: identity and Unity in Diversity," said that players in the creative sector should find deep discipline and proper approach in participating the powerful creative economy phenomenon.

"Intellectual Property is one of the tools to promote creativity," Gantchev stressed. In fact, it is a new framework which allows to transform creative outputs into economic goods.

Gantchev mentioned a study that confirms that potential significant contribution of creative economy to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Based on the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) report, it showed that the creative or copyright-based industries contributed P661.23 billion to the Philippine economy in 2010.

A study conducted by the IPOPHL and the World Intellectual Property Organization this year, revealed that the creative industries’ contribution to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) was estimated at 7.34 percent in 2010.

The latest result is higher than the 4.82 percent contribution of the creative industries to the GDP in the 2006 baseline study.

In terms of employment, the creative industries accounted for 14.14 percent or 560,665 workers in 2010, up compared to its 11 percent contribution to the labor force in 2006.

The study also showed the creative industries accounted for 3.06 percent of total exports and 0.81 percent of total imports in 2010.

Creative or copyright-based industries are those engaged in creation, production and manufacturing, performance, broadcast, communication and exhibition, or distribution and sales of works and other protected subject matter.

The industries include published works of literature, music, motion picture, software, graphic arts as well as advertising services.

One of the challenges however, faced by the industry is the availability of credible data, even in the national level.

"It is important for creators to be aware of the various income generation in the creative industry," he said reminding that respect to their own work, or put a value to their works is very important.

The SEACON X Cebu 2015, held yesterday at the City Sports Club, organized by DTI-Cebu Provincial Office, Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Cebu Creative Council, attracted delegates from Creative Councils in second cities in Asia like Chiang Mai, (Thailand); George Town, Penang (Malaysia), Bandung (Indonesia), and other foreign and local players, experts in the creative sector.