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Legislation making a number of changes to the Philippines’ Republic Act 8293 (the Intellectual Property Code) has cleared the conference committee.  The law makes a number of changes aimed at strengthening IP protection, but it also adds a specific copyright exception for the visually impaired.  Sen. Manny Villar, Chairman of the Committee on Trade and Commerce and the Senate bill’s sponsor, stressed that the stronger protection is need for copyright industries in the Philippines, which account for 5% of the country’s GDP.

Click here for the full text of the legislation (Senate Bill 2842)

The legislation changes the existing copyright law in the following ways:

• Amends the existing law language on fair use to specify that it applies to a “limited number of” copies
• Adds a specific exception to copyright for for the reproduction or distribution of materials in formats for people visually impaired persons, “provided that such copies and distribution shall be made on a non-profit basis”
• Expands the definition of infringement to include contributory infringement
• Regulates collective management organizations
• Establishes a Bureau of Copyright

For further information see:

• Philippine Star. Lawmakers approve changes to intellectual property law. November 20, 2012.
• Manilla Standard. Bicam approves amendment to IP law. November 20 2012.