Creative industries: Copyright is our lifeblood, living

In a three-day Intellectual property-themed arts and culture festival in the University of the Philippines Diliman, Performers' Rights Society of the Philippines (PRSP) President and famed violinist John Lesaca expressed a plea for the public to respect copyright and related rights as this is the lifeline of the Filipino creative community - from composers, to authors, painters, and performers. 

 “We’re telling the public, that these creative works do not come for ‘free’ , despite what many think. Music is not free. We’ve chosen these careers in the arts, and this is our living,” renowned violinist and PRSP President John Lesaca said during the last day of the arts and culture fest organized by IPOPHL, the University of the Philippines Alumni Association, and the Intellectual Property Association of the Philippines. 

Mr. Lesaca stressed the significance of copyright and related rights in allowing artists and Filipino creative community to benefit from their craft, and give them incentive to create further work. 

“For us, copyright and related rights serve to arm the creative industries and performing industries with the proper tools to protect themselves,” Mr. Lesaca said. 

Copyright covers literary or artistic works while ‘related rights’ are those given to the performance of the song, sound recordings, and the broadcasts. 

Vested with related rights, performers of songs may band together in a collective management organization (CMO) which manages their rights and  negotiate license-fee agreements with users of the the songs, like radio and TV stations, cable stations, concert halls, wired music services, airlines, websites, etc.)

PRSP is a CMO accredited by the IPOPHL. 

The CMOs also collect royalties and enforcement of rights on behalf of the copyright holders.

The first session was attended by singer and songwriter Noel Cabangon, joined by classical singer Ramon Acoymo. 

An exhibit of works by Filipino artists were displayed in the UP Bahay ng Alumni, where on-the-spot sketching session was also held on the second day of the festival. 

The 3-day fest,  from April 17 -  19, 2018,  saw the coming together of artists in visual arts, music, and dance to exhibit their craft, and collectively champion the protection and cultivation of intellectual property.