Tuesday, April 26, 2011

World Intellectual Property Day 2011-26 April

Calendar of Activities

26 April 2011

World Intellectual Property Day

Designing the Future


April 25-27

Patent and Patent Information Review for Innovation Technology Support Offices in Visayas and Mindanao

Patent Drafting Seminar-Workshop for faculty members, scientists, and researchers, Tacloban City

April 26

Piracy Watch, 11AM-12NN on DZRJ 810 kHz the Voice of the Philippines
the Philippine Star and Manila Times special section on World IP Day

April 27-29

Patent and Patent Information Review for Innovation Technology Support Offices in Luzon and NCR

April 28

Opening of the 10th IPOPHL Satellite Office in Tacloban City

Workshop on Copyright Systems in the Philippines and South Korea, Edsa Shangri La Hotel, 2-5PM

IP Basic Orientation Seminar for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in DTI Regional HQ Tacloban City

Day 1 of Training on Surveillance, Investigation and Evidence Preservation of Seized Pirated and Counterfeit Products, Kalayaan II, 6/F, St. Giles Hotel, Makati Avenue corner Kalayaan, Makati City

April 29

Issuance of maiden copyright registration and deposit certificates in favor of the Ninoy and Cory Aquino Foundation over Former Pres. Cory Aquino’s paintings, 8-10AM, IPOPHL

IPOPHL-PDRCI launches arbitration for intellectual property disputes, Supreme Court, Padre Faura, Manila, 11AM-2PM

Day 2 of Training on Surveillance, Investigation and Evidence Preservation of Seized Pirated and Counterfeit Products, Kalayaan II, 6/F, St. Giles Hotel, Makati Avenue corner Kalayaan, Makati City

IP on TV presents World IP Day on Global News Network channel 8 of Destiny, 7-8PM

Contact IPOPHL at 238-6300 local 207 for more details.

(from IPOPHL website)

Monday, April 25, 2011

Industrial Property and Patent

by Alvin J. Buenaventura of FILCOLS for The Living Letter, a column published in Perlas ng Silangan Balita, a weekly newspaper in Cavite.


Patent for Inventions

According to World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) booklet on IP, intellectual property refers to creations of the mind: inventions, literary and artistic works, and symbols, names and images used in commerce.

There are two kinds of IP: industrial property and copyright. Under the industrial property, you will find patent, trademark or servicemark, industrial designs and geographical indications. Under copyright, you will find literary and artistic works.

Patent is what you call the rights and protection being given by the government to the inventors and their inventions. These inventions may be products or processes that help solve the problems and challenges we encounter.

Here is an example for the product is the washing machine. This invention helps solve your wife’s (or husband’s) problem called a mountain load of dirty clothes.

Here is an example for the process is the process of watering the mango tree using a solution with potassium nitrate. This invention makes the tree have flowers and eventually bear fruits more easily and faster than usual. It was the scientist Dr. Ramon Barba who invented this process in the 1960s.

Before the introduction of Dr. Barba’s process, mango trees are usually “pinauusukan” so that it will bear flowers and get ready to bear fruits. A big amount of smoke is needed in this process and usually it takes a very long time. It also brings tears to the person who does the “pagpapausok” for so many times before the tree bears any flower. Because of this, the mangoes became seasonal fruit and it doesn’t yield huge profit to the mango farmers.

Through his own research, Dr. Barba found out it was the ethylene from the smoke that makes the mango tree bear flowers. To hasten the process, one needs to engulf the whole tree with ethylene gas. Which posed to be a big problem indeed.

Dr. Barba’s creativity helped him discover the right process. He experimented with different chemicals until he discovered that watering the tree with a solution consisting of 100 liters of water and a kilo of potassium nitrate is enough to make the mango tree bear flowers in just one week.

This is the reason why mango industry flourished in the Philippines. Mango trees bore fruits more easily and faster than usual. It gave livelihood and brisk business not only to the owners and caretakers of mango trees but to sellers of pesticides, fruit vendors, fruit transportation entrepreneurs and the factory owners of mango products such as juice, jam, candy, preserved products as well. We may count the karinderya owners beside these kinds of factories as benefactors too. And the karinderya suppliers of fish, meat, rice and more.

As of now, the industry amounts to more than 40 million dollars or 1.8 billion pesos.

And because this process is owned by Dr. Barba, he was awarded a patent by the government through the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines. This will help him protect his moral and economic rights especially after the incident where another inventor was claiming ownership of the said process.

As a patent owner, Dr. Barba has the right and power to authorize the use of the process. He can give authorization to anyone he chooses for the use or sales of his invention. He can also sell it, have it rented or bequeath to his family.

What if your invention is just an improvement of another invention? Will you be given a patent for that? This is the topic of discussion in our next The Living Letter. If you have questions about the topic of discussion, please email filcols@gmail.com.

Translated from Filipino by Beverly W. Siy.

Kinds of Intellectual Property

by Alvin J. Buenaventura for The Living Letter, a column published in Perlas ng Silangan Balita, a weekly newspaper in Cavite.

According to World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) booklet on IP, intellectual property refers to creations of the mind: inventions, literary and artistic works, and symbols, names and images used in commerce.

There are two kinds of IP: industrial property and copyright. Under the industrial property, you will find patent, trademark or servicemark, industrial designs and geographical indications. Under copyright, you will find literary and artistic works.

Products and processes that were discovered or invented give solution or answer to questions or problems that bug the common people. The government gives protection to these products and services. It protects inventions. The protection is called patent.

For example, the washing machine was perceived as the solution to tons of laundry clothes. The process or the formula to make a tube of skin ointment was the solution to gross skin problems like hadhad.

Only the inventor has the right to decide which individuals or company may manufacture or produce his/her product or process. The inventor owns the patent. He/she may complain or file a case against people who were not authorized to manufacture, use or sell his/her product or process.

It was the industrial design that give the appearance of a product. More often than not, it would be the appearance or the unique design of a product that affects the sales dearly. Only the owner of the industrial designs has the right to use or give authorization to use his/her design to other products.

Product brands are called trademark. For the service brand, it is service mark. The marks can be words, numbers, insignia, colors, containers, logo, wrappers or packaging, and others. They introduce to the market the uniqueness of a service or product.

For example, the red bee with the name Jollibee is a brand that is owned by the popular fast food chain. This name can never be used by others who sell hamburgers and fried chicken without the permission of the Jollibee Company.

To those who always send money to the province, you will easily recognize another example of servicemark in the letters LBC and its slogan “HaringPadala.”

When a place becomes popular for its produce or products, it becomes the best example for geographical indications. The champagne, a kind of expensive wine, comes only from Champagne, a region in France. This situation is called geographical indications.

The right of an author to produce more than one copy of his/her literary, scientific or artistic work is called copyright. But copyright isn’t just one single right. It is a bundle of rights. These rights are granted to the authors/creators by the law.

IP is very important in everyone’s life and in the economy of a country. We will discuss more about the essence of IP on our next issue.

Authors, publishers or heirs of copyright owners are invited to join FILCOLS. We will help you protect your copyright over your works. To join, one only needs to have published works, or one needs to be the heirs of an author or has the right to manage the rights of an author. Membership is free. If you have queries, email us at filcols@gmail.com.


Translated from Filipino by Beverly W. Siy.

The Three Kinds of Property

THREE KINDS OF PROPERTY: Personal, Real and Intellectual

by Alvin J. Buenaventura for THE LIVING LETTER, a column published in Perlas ng Silangan Balita, weekly newspaper in Cavite



What is the difference of your wrist watch and your vacant lot?

The price, you might say. But what else?

Your wrist watch is a personal property. This can be taken somewhere else or be brought along with you. You can wear the wrist watch to your workplace or even to leisure trips. And because it is your property, you have the right and the power to decide when, where or how to use it. You can lend it to your wife. You can ask your wife not to lend it to your father-in-law. You can pawn the wrist watch. You can also sell it. You can bequeath it to your child.

On the other hand, your vacant lot is a real property. You cannot bring it with you or move it to somewhere else. You cannot take it to your workplace nor to leisure trips. As the owner of this property, you have the right and the power to decide when, where or how to use it. You can lend it to your father-in-law. You can ban people from squatting there. You can pawn it, sell it, have it rented or bequeath to your heirs.

What about IP? What is intellectual property?

I.P.is a property created by the human mind. It has two kinds: 1. industrial property where these items belong: patent for invention, trademark for product brands and service mark for services brands and 2. copyright for any literary, scientific and artistic work.

Like personal property and real property, IP is owned by someone or some people. And the owner of IP has the right and the power to decide when, where and how to use it. It can be lent to someone else, pawned, sold, have it rented or bequeathed.
The different kinds of intellectual property will be tackled in the next issue of The Living Letter.

If you have questions, comments, suggestions, please email me at filcols@gmail.com. Visit filcols.blogspot.com for more information on IP and copyright.

If you are an author or publisher, join us so we can help you protect your rights. Just send us an email. We hope to hear from you soon.

This article was translated from Filipino by Beverly W. Siy.

Buhay na Titik: World Intellectual Property Day

ni Alvin J. Buenaventura ng FILCOLS


World Intellectual Property Day


Alam mo ba na ang intellectual property (IP) ay sumasaklaw sa ating buong buhay?

IP is everywhere.

Bago ka lumabas ng bahay ay naliligo at nagtu-toothbrush ka. (Dapat lang kung hindi ay huhulihin ka ni Mamang Pulis dahil sa pagkakaroon ng bawal na paputok). Ang shampoo mo ay IP. Ang pangalan nito ay pinag-isipan at naka-rehistro bilang trademark. Ang formula nito para makatanggal ng balakubak ay bunga rin ng isip ng mga imbentor at naka-rehistro naman bilang patent. Ang disenyo o art work sa label ay mula sa mga malikhaing artist at napoprotektahan sila ng copyright.

Ang IP ay mga creation of the human mind. Ang pangmumog mo para fresh breath ka ay IP. Ang inilalagay mo sa kilikili para labanan ang anghit ay IP. Ang ipinapahid mo sa balat para mawala ang buni ay IP. Ang pampaputi ni Mommy ay IP. Ang milk formula ni Baby ay IP. Ang alak ni Daddy ay IP rin. IP ang music, pelikula, at TV shows na tinatangkilik ng biyenan mo. Ang libro para ka matuto ay IP. Ang sasakyan, building, TV, ref, radio, computer, cellphone ay IP.

Kaya nga IP is everywhere.

Mula umaga hanggang gabi ay pinagagaan ng IP ang buhay mo. Inaaliw at tinuturuan ka ng IP.

Nakapaloob sa IP ang patent, trademark, at copyright. Ito ang tatlong pangunahing pangkat ng IP. Ang patent ay ibinibigay sa mga imbensiyon o proseso na solusyon sa problema ng tao. Ang trademark ay proteksiyon para sa mga tatak ng produkto. Servicemark naman para sa mga service. At copyright ang proteksiyon ng batas para sa mga libro, music, pelikula, at iba pang masining na gawa.

Ang IP ay nakakapagbigay ng trabaho sa maraming tao. Halimbawa, ang Visprint ay dating taga-imprenta ng mga resibo at calling card sa Recto. Konti lang ang tanggap nilang trabaho kaya konti lang ang tauhan nila.

Dahil sa mga libro ni Bob Ong ay lumaki ang kanilang operasyon, nagbigay ito ng trabaho sa maraming tao, at nakapagtayo ng mas magandang opisina sa Pasay. Marami sa kanilang mga tauhan ay mula pa sa Pampanga, ang hometown ng may-ari ng Visprint.

Ang mga negosyong naitayo dahil sa IP ay nakakapagbayad ng buwis na ginagamit ng gobyerno sa basic services tulad ng mga health center, bagong tulay, at pagpapaaral nang libre sa mga pampublikong paaralan tulad ng University of the Philippines.

Isa sa pagpapahalaga sa IP ay ang di pagtangkilik sa mga peke o pirated na produkto. Ang mga namimirata ay gumagawa ng produktong walang permit ng may-ari ng IP. Ibig sabihin ninanakaw nila ang IP ng iba. Kapag peke ang binili mo, ang kumikita ay ang nagnakaw ng IP.


Kung ang mga libro ni Bob Ong ay ipapa-photocopy mo bilang “book alike,” mawawalan ng kita hindi lang ang author kundi ang publisher na Visprint. Dahil walang kita ang publisher ay wala silang maipapasuweldo sa mga tauhan nila. Na magiging dahilan para mag-lay-off at pauwiin na lang nila ang mga tauhan sa Pampanga.

Sabi nga, “piracy is a job killer, a business killer.”

Dahil dito ay wala ring buwis na maibabayad sa gobyerno kaya hihina o lalong kakaunti ang serbisyo para sa mga may sakit, walang pangkumpuni ng tulay, mawawalan ng pantustos sa mga public school. Kakaunti ang kayang papag-aralin sa UP.

Simula noong 2001, itinalaga ng World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) ang Abril 26 bilang World Intellectual Property Day. Ang layon ng pagdiriwang ay maiangat ang awareness ng mga tao sa papel ng IP sa pang-araw-araw na buhay at maipakita ang halaga ng kontribusyon ng authors at inventors sa pag-unlad ng bayan.

At ngayong alam mo nang ang IP ay mahalagang parte ng ating buhay at ng ating bayan, hikayatin mo ang biyenan mong bumili lang ng genuine products. Para marami siyang mapag-aral sa UP at iba pang government funded na paaralan.

Inaanyayahan ang mga awtor, publisher, o tagapagmana ng copyright na sumali sa FILCOLS. Ito’y para mabigyang proteksiyon ang kanilang mga akda. Kailangan lamang ay mayroon kayong published works kung kayo ay awtor/publisher o nasa inyo ang kapangyarihang magmanage kung heirs kayo ng awtor. Wala pong membership fee. Kung may tanong hinggil sa tinalakay na paksa, mag-email lamang sa filcols@gmail.com.

Buhay na Titik: World Book and Copyright Day

ni Alvin J. Buenaventura ng FILCOLS


World Book and Copyright Day


Bakit tuwing Abril 23 ay nagsasaya ang lahat ng book worms at bibliophile sa buong mundo?
Sapagkat ito ang World Book and Copyright Day o Pandaigdigang Araw ng mga Libro at Karapatang-sipi.

Ang pagdiriwang na ito ay itinalaga ng UNESCO o United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization simula pa noong 1995. Inaanyayahan ng UNESCO ang mga bansang kasapi nito na gumawa ng mga gimik para lalo pang mahalin ng mga tao ang libro at gawing bahagi ng kanilang kultura ang pagbabasa. Siyempre kasama rin dito ang paggalang sa copyright ng mga author.

Sa Pilipinas, ang mga ahensiyang nangunguna sa selebrasyon ng World Book and Copyright Day ay ang National Book Development Board (NBDB) at ang Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPO PHL).

Ang NBDB ang pangunahing ahensiya ng gobyerno na sumusuporta at nagpapalago sa industriya ng paglilimbag ng libro sa Pilipinas. Binuo ang ahensiya sa pamamagitan ng Republic Act 8047 o Book Publishing Industry Development Act of 1995.

Ang IPOPHL naman ay ang ahensiya ng gobyerno na pangunahing layunin ang mabigyan-proteksiyon ang intellectual property (IP) ng mga siyentipiko, imbentor, artists, at iba pang malikhaing mamamayan. 

Ang IP ang siyang nagpaunlad sa maraming bansa tulad ng Japan, US, Germany, at Singapore. Ang IP ng mga Pinoy at Pinay ang siya ring makakatulong sa pag-unlad ng ating bayan. Binuo ang IPOPHL sa bisa ng Republic Act 8293 o ang Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines noong 1998.

Sa ibang bansa, kanya-kanya ng gimmick sa pagdiriwang. Halimbawa sa Spain, nagkakaroon ng pagbasa ng sikat na nobela ni Cervantes na “Don Quixote.” Non-stop ang pagbasa ng nobela, parang pabasa ng pasyon dito sa atin tuwing Mahal na Araw. Sa UK naman, ang mga guro at estudyante ay nagko-costume para maging kamukha ng paborito nilang tauhan sa libro.

Katuwang ng NBDB ang IPOPHL sa pagtataguyod ng book industry, pagkilala at pagprotekta sa karapatan ng mga author, at pakikipagtulungan sa mga pribadong organisasyon tulad ng mga samahan ng mga author, publisher, at iba pa.

Madalas ay gumagawa sila ng mga event para matulungan ang mga author lalo na sa kanilang “copyright issues.” Nag-oorganisa sila sa talks na nakatutok sa karapatan ng mga author, sa pagkakaroon ng patas na kontrata para sa kanila at mula sa hanay ng mga publisher, sa mga bagong estilo at trends ng pagsusulat, at kung papaano nila madadala sa market ang kanilang mga akda.

Ang pandaigdigang selebrasyong ito ay nag-ugat sa Catalonia, Spain. Noong Middle Ages ay ipinagdiriwang ang pista ni St. George. Binibigyan ng kalalakihan ang kani-kanilang mga girlfriend ng mga rosas. Naisip ng mga publisher sa Catalonia noong 1920s na dapat ang tugon ng mga babae sa rosas ay pagbibigay ng libro. Exchange gift kumbaga. Kapalit ng rosas ay libro. Naging masigla ang book industry sa Catalonia tuwing Abril 23 dahil dito. Mas maraming rosas at libro ang nabenta. At siyempre, ang lahat ay masaya. Babae man o lalaki.

Nakita ng UNESCO ang kasikatan ng pistang ito at naging sikat din ang petsa dahil maraming sikat na authors ang ipinanganak o namatay nang Abril 23 tulad nina William Shakespeare, Miguel de Cervantes, Vladimir Nabokov, at iba pa. Kaya noong 1995, ginawa na itong pandaigdigang pagdiriwang.

Kaya simula ngayon, para mas marami pa ang sumaya, yayain mo na ang biyenan mo na samahan kang makisali o manguna sa mga event tuwing Abril 23: ang pagdiriwang ng World Book and Copyright Day.

Inaanyayahan ang mga awtor, publisher, o tagapagmana ng copyright na sumali sa FILCOLS. Ito’y para mabigyang proteksiyon ang kanilang mga akda. Kailangan lamang ay mayroon kayong published works kung kayo ay awtor/publisher o nasa inyo ang kapangyarihang magmanage kung heirs kayo ng awtor. Wala pong membership fee. Kung may tanong hinggil sa tinalakay na paksa, mag-email lamang sa filcols@gmail.com.

World Poetry Day tuwing 21 Marso

Buhay na Titik
ni Alvin Buenaventura ng FILCOLS

Ang mga makata sa buong mundo ay may dahilan para magpakita ng kanilang galing. Kaisa nila ang mga makata sa mula sa iba pang bansa sa pagdiriwang ng World Poetry Day.

Noong 1999, itinalaga ng UNESCO o United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization ang Marso 21 bilang araw ng pagdiriwang ng panulaan.

Ang proklamasyon ay pagkilala sa halaga ng tula sa sining at pagpupugay sa sinabi ng isang sikat na pintor sa France na si Eugene Delacroix, “There is no art without poetry.”

Mahalaga ang tula sapagkat nabibigyang-buhay nito sa pamamagitan ng tekso at salita ang hinaing ng sangkatauhan. Naipapakita ng pintor ang kanyang saloobin sa pamamagitan ng kulay, hugis, at brush strokes. Ang tula ay dapat na nakasulat. Makukumpleto lamang ang pagpapahayag ng saloobin ng makata kung ito ay babasahin at bibigkasin na. Tama si Delacroix. Walang sining kung walang tula.

Sa panahong marami na ang umaagaw ng atensiyon ng tao lalo na ng mga kabataan, ang tula ay nagbibigay-tinig sa saloobin ng tao, nagbibigay-daan para muli niyang saliksikin ang sarili, at tingnan ang kanyang pinag-ugatan. Ang taong kilala ang pinagmulan ay hindi basta-basta nadadarang ng mga propaganda. Nahahasa ang kanyang isip at nagkakaroon ng critical thinking na tumutulong para mapaglimian niya ang mga pagpipilian niya at para makapagdesisyon nang tama.

Ang tula ay nagbibigay din ng challenge sa mga makata na magpahayag ng kanilang damdamin, magpakita ng pagiging malikhain, at maging orihinal. Ibig sabihin ay ang pag-iwas sa pagkopya na lamang sa iba. Sapagkat ang saloobin ng bawat tao ay madalas na magkakaiba.

Ang pagkakaroon ng mga poetry reading na kalimitang nagaganap pagsapit ng gabi ay isang pagbabalik sa ating oral tradition o live performance kung saan ang halos lahat ng kasapi ng bawat pangkat ay nakapalibot sa nagsasayaw na bonfire, magkakatabi ang bawat isa, at buong-buo ang atensiyon sa pakikinig sa bawat salitang nagmumula sa nagkukuwento o tumutula.

Ayon sa UNESCO, mahalagang maibalik ito dahil ang oral tradition at pagsasalita ay kailangan ng tao sa kanyang “socialization” o pakikipagtalastasan. Ito rin ay para mabuo ang indibidwal sa tulong ng komunidad o kapangkat.

Isa sa mahahalagang panawagan ng UNESCO sa mga bansang nagdiriwang ng World Poetry Day ay ang pagbibigay-suporta para lalong dumami pa ang mga batang makata, at ang pagtataguyod sa mga “small publisher” na naglilimbag ng koleksiyon ng mga tula ng bago o batang makata. Mahalaga ang small publishers sapagkat hindi lahat ng akda ay ipina-publish ng mga sikat at malalaking publisher.

Sa ating bansa, maraming poetry readings at poets’ groups. Isa sa pinakamatagal at pinakatagumpay ay ang LIRA o Linangan sa Imahen, Retorika at Anyo. Ito ay pinasimulan ni Virgilio S. Almario, National Artist for Literature. Taon-taon ay mayroon silang palihan para sa mga bagong makata. Dito hinahasa ang talim ng pananalinghaga ng bawat isa.

Interesado ka na bang tumula? Ano pa ang hinihintay mo? Magsulat na’t bumigkas. ‘Yan ang mga unang hakbang sa pagiging makata.


Inaanyayahan ang mga awtor, publisher, o tagapagmana ng copyright na sumali sa FILCOLS. Ito’y para mabigyang proteksiyon ang kanilang mga akda. Kailangan lamang ay mayroon kayong published works kung kayo ay awtor/publisher o nasa inyo ang kapangyarihang magmanage kung heirs kayo ng awtor. Wala pong membership fee. Kung may tanong hinggil sa tinalakay na paksa, mag-email lamang sa filcols@gmail.com.

Monday, April 18, 2011

Updated List of FILCOLS Members

Name/Company
Abad, Gemino H.
Abrahan, Gian Carlo C.
Abuan, Mariane Amor T.
Abueg, Efren R.
Acabado, Brian B.
Agapito, Josephine D.
Aguay, Jr., Bernardo O.
Alarde, Crispulo
Alcantara, Ruby G.
Almario, Virgilio S.
Almonte, Napoleon G.
Alvarez, Crizzalyn
Amante, Louise Vincent B.
Anima, Nid A.
Anlim, Jaime L.
Antonio, Teo T.
Añonuevo, Rebecca T.
Añonuevo, Roberto T.
Arguelles, Mesandel V.
Asuncion, Ruperta (heirs)
Atalia, Eros S.
Atilano, Ronald A.
Bacudio, Ana Maria A.
Balde, Abdon M. Jr.
Baquiran, Romulo P.
Barcelona, Noel Sales
Barco, Nestor S.
Bautista, Lualhati T.
Beltran, Andy C.
Beltran, Maria Rona B.
Bengco, Grace P.
Bolasco, Karina A.
Bonifacio, Amelia L.
Boquiren, Rommel Chester G.
Bumadilla, Sergio A.
Bustamante, Marchiesal B.
Cabote, Diana G.
Name withheld upon request
Camba, Moreal N.
Capili, Jose Wendell
Carcamo, Ronaldo L.
Carpio, Rustica C.
Casanova, Arthur
Catanyag, Teofilo M.
Chancoco, Jose Jason L.
Choon, James Teng
Constantino, Anna Veronica L.
Cordero, Kristian S.
Coroza, Michael M.
Cristobal, Jr., Adrian
Cristobal, Sr., Adrian E.
Cristobal, Celina S.
Crizaldo, Hazel Joy P.
Cruz, Isagani R.
Cruz, Jhoanna Lynn B.
Cutab, Leonil Fernando R.
Dabao, Vicente V.
Dalisay, Jose Jr. Y.
De Peralta, Honeylein C.
Dela Cruz, Ainne Frances F.
Dela Cruz, Rita T.
Delos Reyes, Joselito D.
De los Reyes, Dong A.
De Ungria, Ricardo
Diokno, Ferdinand
Dudang, Elnora B.
Dumlao, Emmanuel V.
Edilo, Genaro Perfecto C.
Enrique, Delia C.
Estrada, Virginia O.
Evasco, Marjorie
Fajilan, Wennielyn F.
Fernandez, Erwin S.
Catalina, Felicitas L.
Festin, Rowena P.
Flores, Jr., Angelito G.
Fonacier, Kristine
Fortun, Noel T.
Funilas, Raul
Galan, Ralph S.
Galos, Reparado III B.
Garlitos, Raymund M.
Geminiano, Melody G.
Gonzales, Danilo V.
Gracio, Jerry B.
Grajo, Jeanette P.
Grego, Frank
Grutas, Sarah Jean B.
Guerrero, Amadis Ma.
Guevara, Nerisa
Hidalgo, Cristina Pantoja
Jocson, Schedar D.
Jurado III, Jose I.
Jurado, Linda A.
Kilates, Marne
Kimpo, Phillip Jr
Kintanar, Thelma B.
Lacaba, Kris L.
Lareza, Erwin
Lim, Ronald Jeffrey S.
Limpin, Vivian N.
Lumbera, Bienvenido
Madrilejos, Alberto Manalon
Maramba, Asuncion David
Miclat, Alma C.
Miclat, Mario I.
Molina, Russel L.
Munsayac, Jose R.
Muyargas, Jose George E.
Na, James Teng Choon
Naval, Jimmuel C.
Nierva, Victor Dennis T.
Nieto, Deborah Rosalind
Nuncio, Elizabeth Morales
Nuncio, Rhoderick
Ong, Charlson L.
Ordoñez, Elmer
Panlilio, Erlinda E.
Parcero, Placido Jr. R.
Pasion-Flores, Andrea D.
Paterno, Maria Elena P.
Patindol, Jean Lee C.
Payongayong, Joahnna Carla A.
Pena, Romeo P.
Perez, Edward
Petras, Jayson D.
Pichay, Nicolas B.
Pineda, Haidee
Pingol, Alicia
Ramos, Windsor Roland M.
Regacho, Corazon F.
Reyes, Pedro (Jun) C.
Rivera, Frank G.
Rodriguez, Rufus B.
Rojo, Sergio, Jr.
Salanga, Elyrah
Salud, Joel Pablo
Salvador, Mary Anne Jimenez
Samar, Edgar C.
Sanchez, Louie Jon A.
Santillan, Renato Rosario
Santos, Benilda S.
Sarigumba, Cherilyn
Sebullen, Isabel D.
Sering, Tara F.T.
Siy, Beverly W.
Socorro, Alexander J.
Sunico, Ramon C.
Sy, Joaquin
Teodoro, John Iremil E.
Toledo, Joel M.
Tolentino, Delfin Jr. L.
Torralba, John Enrico C.
Torre, Ricky S.
Uy-Regala, Betty C.
Verzo, Ronald V.
Villafania, Santiago
Villasis, Enrique S.
Yabes, Criselda D.
Yumul, Aurora Veronica D.
Yuson, Alfred A.
Zafra, Galileo S.

Local and Foreign Publishers
A-Z Direct Marketing
Adarna House, Inc.
ambitgoya Books Enterprises
Anvil Publishing
Ateneo Press
C & E Publishing
Cacho Publishing House
Cambridge University Press
Central Books
Claretian Communications Foundation, Inc.
Don Bosco Press Inc.
Ilaw ng Tahanan Publishing, Inc.
Lampara Publishing
National Book Store
New Day Publishers
Precious Pages
Shepherd's Voice Publications, Inc.
St. Mary's Publishing Corp.
UP Sentro ng Wikang Filipino
UST Press
Vibal Publishing

Book Industry Association
Book Development Association of the Philippines

FILCOLS in IPA first General Assembly







Alvin Buenaventura, the Executive Director of Filipinas Copyright Licensing Society (FILCOLS), attended the very first general assembly of Intellectual Property Advocates (IPA). It was held last 1 April 2011 at the Meeting Room, St. La Salle Hall, De La Salle University, Manila and led by its president Ms. Sheila Balisado.

IPA is the first organization of its kind. It is composed of DLSU Manila students from different courses and backgrounds united with one goal: the advancement of IP in and outside the walls of their university.

IPA is the brainchild of Atty. Christopher Cruz, the head of the Intellectual Property Office of DLSU Manila. He is also the current adviser of the promising organization.

Gathered on its first assembly are about a dozen students, mostly officers of the IPA. According to Atty. Cruz, they will have their workshop soon to prepare for the activities of the next academic year.

They had Buenaventura as its first guest speaker with a talk on copyright, tertiary education and licensing societies like FILCOLS. One of the future projects of IPA is the publication of the university’s IP policies.

For Love of the Word: Workshops on Teaching Philippine Literature in High School and College

Dear Sir/Madam:



Warm greetings from the Philippine PEN Board of Directors!



The Philippine Center of International PEN (Poets, Playwrights, Essayists, Novelists) is conducting a series of teaching literature workshops in selected regions of the Philippines this year. Called “For Love of the Word: Workshops on Teaching Philippine Literature in High School and College,” this project is geared toward retooling and upgrading the skills of literature teachers in both secondary and tertiary levels. This project is supported by PEN International in UK, and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA). The first workshop was successfully held last March 25 in Far Eastern University-Manila.



The second of the series, a lecture-workshop on teaching poetry and fiction in English, Filipino and regional languages, will be held on May 6, from 8:30am to 4:00pm, at the University of San Agustin’s Conference Room, Blanco Hall, General Luna St., Iloilo City. PEN authors and Metrobank Outstanding Teacher Awardees Dr. Marjorie Evasco and Dr. Leoncio Deriada will serve as the facilitators.



In this regard, may we invite your faculty members to participate in this workshop? There is no registration fee. A workshop kit and a certificate of attendance will be given to each participant.



At this point, PEN is making arrangements with possible patrons to sponsor the lunch for the participants. We have not finalized anything though. However, may we assure you that there are decent and affordable eateries located within and outside the campus.



For pre-registration, please submit the name/s of your participant/s and your school to PEN. You may email PEN at philippinepen@yahoo.com, or please text +639175287491.



Thank you for your kind attention. We look forward to your participation.





Very truly yours,



Joselito B. Zulueta

National Secretary

Philippine Center of International PEN

c/o Solidaridad Bookstore

531 Padre Faura St., Ermita, Manila, Philippines

Tel. (632) 5230870; Telefax (632) 5255038

Email: philippinepen@yahoo.com

Website: http://philippinepen.co.cc/









Background



The Philippine PEN is a member of International PEN (Poets, Playwrights, Essayists, Novelists) with Centers in some 150 countries worldwide.



The PEN Philippine Center celebrated its golden anniversary in December 2007. Its founding was marked by a national writers conference, the first of its kind after the war, held for two days in Baguio City in December 1958 and attended by distinguished literary people and intellectuals from all over the country including Senator Claro M. Recto and President Carlos P. Garcia. The conference organizer and also Philippine PEN founder was F. Sionil José, now National Artist for Literature. Among the conference participants were, later to become National Artists for Literature: Francisco Arcellana, N.V.M. Gonzalez, Bienvenido Lumbera, Alejandro Roces and Edith Tiempo.



In its 50 years, the Philippine PEN has organized and sponsored activities such as literary readings, workshops, meet-the-author series, seminars, and conferences in Manila and in the provinces. It has hosted the visits or held receptions for distinguished writers from abroad, such as Nobel Laureates Wole Soyinka and Mario Vargas Llosa, Richard Kim, Lin Yutang, Khushwant Singh, Hirabayashi Taiko, Hayako Sono, Norman Mailer, Gunter Grass, Mochtar Lubis, Edwin Thumboo, Juan Gelman, and many others. PEN also organized two regional Asian Writers conferences in Manila, and published several anthologies including an Asian PEN Anthology.



During the Marcos dictatorship, PEN stood in defense of the freedom of expression and speech. This is an avowed purpose as embodied in the International PEN Charter.



In December 2010, Philippine PEN marked its 53rd year with an international conference in Cebu City, Philippines. The theme was “Solidarity in Literature without Borders.” The confab gathered together not only Filipino writers in the archipelago, but also representative writers from Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas. The Jose Rizal Lecture, the highlight of the conference, was delivered by eminent writer and intellectual Dr. Resil Mojares.



PEN is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission.





Philippine Center of International PEN Board



Francisco Sionil José, Founder



Board Members (2009-2011)

Bienvenido Lumbera, Chair

Elmer Ordoñez, Vice Chair

Joselito B. Zulueta, National Secretary

Susie Tan, Treasurer

Shirley Lua, Assistant Treasurer

Jose Wendell Capili, Public Affairs Officer

Ronald Baytan

Herminio Beltran, Jr.

Karina Bolasco

Marjorie Evasco

Susan Lara

Charlson Ong

Nicolas Pichay

Jun Cruz Reyes

Jose Victor Torres

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Forum on IP, Copyright, Research and Education Slated

Copyright: Empowering the Research University, a forum about intellectual property, copyright, research and education will be held on 13 September 2011 from 1:00 p.m.– 5:00 p.m. at the Meeting Room 6, SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City.

The heads, deans and officers of Metro Manila universities and colleges and their intellectual property offices are invited to attend.

Opening remarks will be delivered by Dr. Isagani R. Cruz, chairperson of Filipinas Copyright Licensing Society, an organization of copyright holders.
Karen Pitt, the general counsel of Australia's Copyright Agency Limited (CAL), will share the experiences with CAL of some of the best educational institutions in her country.

While Paul Wee, the chief executive officer of Copyright Licensing and Administration Society of Singapore (CLASS) will talk about the Singapore Experience.
De La Salle University Manila, the first university in the country to respect authors’ human rights, will send a representative from its own Intellectual Property Office to talk about the advantages of having a license to photocopy copyrighted materials from respected research institutions here and abroad.

Alvin Buenaventura, the Executive Director of Filipinas Copyright Licensing Society (FILCOLS) will present the proposal of FILCOLS, the Philippines' national RRO.

A question and answer session will follow. The speakers will be joined by Atty. Andrea Pasion-Flores, the executive director of National Book Development Board (NBDB); and a representative from the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL).

Closing remarks will be delivered by Lirio P. Sandoval, the president of Book Development Board of the Philippines.

One of the aims of the forum is to introduce the concept of collective management societies and reproduction rights organizations (RROs) to the education sector and how they can help universities become top research institutions in the country.

FILCOLS is the main organizer of the event. Sponsors are Norwegian Copyright Development Association (NORCODE) and reproduction rights organization of different countries such as Norway (KOPINOR).

A registration fee of P500 will be charged. Pre-registration is REQUIRED. For details, please contact FILCOLS at 747-9250 local 401, 0919-3175708 or filcols@gmail.com. You may also visit filcols@blogspot.com for a backgrounder on FILCOLS.

Post-event 2011 Academic Publishing Conference and Mini-Book Fair

NBDB in partnership with FILCOLS and De La Salle University- Bacolod presented 2011 Academic Publishing Conference and Mini-Book Fair. It was held last March 3 and 4, 2011 at the De La Salle University-Bacolod, Bacolod City.

In attendance were students, professors and university press representatives of the University of St. La Salle Bacolod and individuals from Central Mindanao University, Philippine Bible Society Cebu Bacolod Christian College, Phoenix Publishing, Cebu Normal University, University of Antique, Central Philippine University, Vibal Publishing, De La Salle University Manila, Far Eastern University Manila, Central Books, University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos, D Knowledge Seller Enterprises and University of San Jose Recoletos.

Welcome remarks was delivered by Dr. Nona Ricafort, Commission on Higher Education Commissioner and member of the NBDB governing board.

For the first day, Atty. Andrea Pasion-Flores, the Executive Director of NBDB, introduced National Book Development Board and how it can be of service to the Academic Publishers.

Mr. Lord Francis Musni, history consultant of Holy Angel Center University for Kapampangan Studies and the representative of the Holy Angel University Press explained the HAU Press way of Creating a Niche in the Academic and Scholarly Publishing Market.

Professor Oscar V. Campomanes of Ateneo de Manila University discussed The Basics of Writing Articles and the Journal Review Process.

Engineer Luwin dela Concha of Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines discussed Copyright 101: Copyright Basics for Publishing.

FILCOLS' Executive Director Alvin Buenaventura encouraged everyone to write and publish through his talk entitled FILCOLS: Enforcing the Economic Right of Copyright Owners.

The second day kicked off with a lecture by David Ong, the Program Lead of Vee Press and Vibal Foundation. It was entitled E-publishing for Academic Publishers.

FILCOLS' Chair and the Director of DLSU Manila Academic Publishing Office Isagani Cruz talked about The Academic Publishing Market and Distribution Channels and Putting Together an Academic Journal.

And last but not the least, FILCOLS Board Member and Unyon ng mga Manunulat sa Pilipinas Chair Engineer Abdon Balde, Jr. shared how to market academic titles as a commercial product.

The event aimed to assist university-based and small publishers in developing their publication program.

FILCOLS receives support from the Norwegian Copyright Development Association (NORCODE) and Kopinor. NORCODE is an international copyright development group funded by five copyright societies namely KOPINOR, GRAMO, TONO, BONO and NORWACO. KOPINOR is the reproduction rights (RRO) of Norway while FILCOLS is the RRO of the Philippines.

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Pagpupugay kay Jacinto

Sa 16 Abril 2011, gaganapin ang "Pagpupugay kay Jacinto," isang pilgrimage sa mga natatanging lugar sa buhay ni Emilio Jacinto. Kasabay nito ang book launching ng pinakabagong akla, ang JACINTINA ng Pambansang Alagad ng Sining para sa Panitikan na si Rio Alma.

5:30 ng umaga ang assembly sa Philcoa. Maghanda lamang ng P500 bilang transportation fee kung walang sasakyan at pipiliin ninyong sumabay aarkilahing van.

Para sa iba pang detalye, makipag-ugnayan kay Joseph Franco sa 0915-4886617.

Friday, April 8, 2011

World Book and Copyright Day on April 15 @ UP Technohub

Summer showers with books this April as the National Book Development Board (NBDB) and the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) Philippines celebrate World Book and Copyright Day on April 15 at the Techportal of the UP-Ayala Land Technohub in Quezon City.

A whole-day event filled with fun activities awaits book lovers of all ages. Find out whatmakes a bestseller click as Visprint’s Nida Ramirez (publisher of Bob Ong books), National Book Store’ Abdon M. Balde, and Simon and Schuster’s JenniferJavier talk about “The Making of a Bestseller: What Sells and What Does Not”.

A fan of romance, chick lit, or erotic fiction? Meet and listen to your favorite genre writers Tara Sering (bestselling author of Almost Married and Amazing Grace), Pinoy romance queen Martha Cecilia (author of Precious Hearts’ Kristine), and Beverly Siy as they talk about what tickles the Filipinos’ romantic fancies and the perks of writing for the genre.


Aspiring writers who want to make it big online can also get tips from their favorite bloggers and authors: Kristine Fonacier (Lonely Planet Philippines), travel and food bloggers JJ Yulo (Pinoy Eats World) and Ivan Henares (Ivan About Town); Tweet Sering (author of blog-turned-book Astigirl, and Iwa Wilwayco (Hay Men: Ang Blog ng Tunay na Lalake) will be talking about all sorts of writing one can do online, and how to make blogging, from food and travel writing to humor and journal blogs, a profitable pastime.

Adarna House, the country’s biggest children’s book publisher, will be conducting a Book Illustration Workshop for Kids, from the step-by-step stages of illustrating for storybooks, building storyboards to incorporating different trends and styles.

Concerned about your copyright when publishing online or print? Intellectual Property Office (IPO) Philippines’ Deputy Director General Andrew Ong, Atty. Louie Calvario, and Atty. Mark Dy will be discussing the negotiating points in Author-Publisher Agreements, arbitration in copyright disputes, copyright issues when publishing on the web, and plagiarism issues.

Finally, catch the exclusive screening of Khavn dela Cruz’s Mondomanila, a film based on Norman Wilwayco’s Palanca-winning novel of the same title. The film, a post-modern version of Edgardo Reyes’ Maynila sa Mga Kuko ng Liwanag, delves into and explores “Manila and its humanity, it also delves into the whole rationale behind the irrational lives these people experience every day.”

Aside from the workshops, lectures, and film showing, there will also be a mini book fair participated in by National Book Store, Anvil Publishing, New Day Publishers, and the Filipinas Heritage Library.

Admission to the event is free, while the admission to the screening of Mondomanila is P100. For details, call 926-8238.

Children's Lit Booktalk & Work-in-Progress Critique

Special Feature: Meet the Author-Illustrator May Tobias-Papa,
author of the National Children's Book Award (NCBA)
winning book ARAW SA PALENGKE

WHEN : 6-8 pm Monday 2011 April 11
WHERE : Figaro 3rd Level Greenbelt 3, Makati
HOST : Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators

Open to members and non-members (18 and above) who are:
* Published/unpublished children's book writers/illustrators
* Keenly interested in children's and young adult literature

BRING: Any children's or young adult book that you want
to share, discuss, ask questions about, or use as a spring-
board for discussion.

Or, bring a work in progress -- your art or manuscript for a
children's or young adult book -- and get a group critique
plus tips on how to get published.

Attendance Fee: P20 (for SCBWI members, no fee) plus
a receipt to show that you ordered something -- a cup of
coffee, a cold drink, anything! It's a courtesy to the
establishment that we’re using as a venue.

For more information contact:
* Beaulah Pedregosa Taguiwalo
0917-787-4956, taguiwalo8888@yahoo.com
* Dominique Garde Torres (Nikki)
0905-347-1668, nikkigtorres@yahoo.com
* Visit http://scbwiphilippines.wordpress.com/


/

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Buhay na Titik: Copyright at ang Malikhaing Unggoy

ni Alvin J. Buenaventura ng FILCOLS


Copyright at ang Malikhaing Unggoy


Alam mo bang may mga malikhaing unggoy?

Ang chimpanzee na isang uri ng unggoy ay gumagamit ng maninipis na tangkay ng halaman para ma-scoop ang mga langgam mula sa isang lungga. Isinusuksok ng unggoy ang tangkay sa lungga para doon kumapit ang mga langgam. Madali na niyang makakain ang mga langgam sa ganitong paraan. Para lang itong lumalantak ng kebab. Ang mga langgam ang paboritong merienda ng chimpanzee.

Hindi naging balakid ang pagtatago ng mga langgam sa lungga. Sa halip, ito pa ang nagtulak sa unggoy para maging malikhain sa pag-isip ng paraan para makuha ang kanyang pinaglalawayang merienda.

Ano ang kinalaman ng unggoy sa column na ito na tungkol sa copyright? Teka, ano nga ulit ang copyright?

Ang copyright ay isang bundle of rights na ibinigay ng batas bilang proteksiyon sa mga awtor. Ang bungkos ng karapatan ay binubuo ng reproduction, translation, adaptation, performance, at broadcasting. Ang mga karapatang ito ay eksklusibo lamang sa awtor.

Papaano kung gusto mong magsulat batay sa isang akda na isinulat ng ibang awtor? Halimbawa: si Steven Vander Ark ay isang fan na gustong mag-publish ng Harry Potter Lexicon, isang uri ng dictionary na nakabatay sa Harry Potter book series. Kinuha niya mula sa Harry Potter book series ang mga pangalan ng sarisaring tauhan, lugar, magic spells, magic creatures at iniayos niya ang mga ito alphabetically. Ang mga depinisyon at paliwanag ng bawat termino ay kinuha rin niya sa Harry Potter book series at sa iba pang mga aklat na isinulat ni JK Rowling, ang awtor ng Harry Potter book series.

Ano ang balak ni Steven Vander Ark sa dictionary niya? E, di ibenta ito para kumita nang malaki. Ayos? Hindi. Kasi hindi pumayag si Rowling. Umabot sa korte ang di nila pagkakasundo. Si Rowling ang pinaburan ng korte. Talo si Vander Ark.

Bakit? Ang tawag kasi dito sa ginawa ni Steven Vander Ark ay derivative work. Ibig sabihin, hinango lang niya ang impormasyon sa orihinal na mga gawa ni Rowling at iniayos ang mga ito para magmukhang dictionary. E, ang awtor lamang ang may kapangyarihang magbigay-pahintulot o pumigil sa nais gumawa ng isang derivative work.

At hindi naman nagpaalam itong si Vander Ark kay Rowling.

Bakit hindi ito pinapayagan ng batas? Dahil violation ito ng karapatan ng awtor. Parang ganito. Me extra space pa sa apartment ng biyenan mo kaya pinaupahan mo naman sa pinsan ng kapatid ng kaibigan mo. Tama ba ito? Siyempre hindi. Dahil iniisahan mo na naman ang biyenan mo.

Maging malikhain ka na lang tulad ng unggoy para kumita sa marangal na paraan.

Maraming tao ang nagrereklamo na hindi raw sila makagawa ng akda at napipigilan ang kanilang pagiging malikhain dahil sa mga balakid na dulot ng copyright. Ayon sa kanila dapat nang isantabi ang copyright at hayaan na lamang na gamitin nang walang pahintulot ang mga akda ng sinumang awtor.

Ganito ang pananaw ng fan at aspiring author na si Vander Ark. At sa palagay ko ay nagdadahilan lamang siya at ang mga tulad niya sa kanilang katamarang maging malikhain at paganahin ang imahinasyon. Mabuti pa ang unggoy, hindi iniinda ang balakid, sa halip ay nilampasan niya ito sa malikhaing paraan.

Ang tunay na malikhain ay hindi mapipigilan ng mga balakid sa paglikha ng mga akda. Mas nagiging malikot ang kanyang isip, lumalalim ang pagtingin, at tumatalas ang mata sa paglikha kaya’t ang kanyang mga akda ay kadalasang mas maganda sa nauna. Alam naman nating lahat na mas magaling ka sa unggoy, kaya ‘wag na ‘wag magpapatalo sa anumang balakid.

Inaanyayahan ang mga awtor, publisher, o tagapagmana ng copyright na sumali sa FILCOLS. Ito’y para mabigyang proteksiyon ang kanilang mga akda. Kailangan lamang ay mayroon kayong published works kung kayo ay awtor/publisher o nasa inyo ang kapangyarihang magmanage kung heirs kayo ng awtor. Wala pong membership fee. Kung may tanong hinggil sa tinalakay na paksa, mag-email lamang sa filcols@gmail.com.

FILCOLS Huntahan for Women Writers: A Winner!













An informal discussion on writing, publishing, intellectual property, and copyright specially designed for women writers and researchers, FILCOLS Huntahan was held last 28 March 2011 at the Seminar Room, College of Social Work and Community Development (CSWCD), Magsaysay St., University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City.

Individuals from FILCOLS’ partner UP Center for Women’s Studies (CWS), media partners Herword.com and Businessworld, Ili Bathaluman, Women’s Feature Service, Emilio Aguinaldo College, Adamson University, Blog Watch Mulat Pinoy, Punla (Pulso ng Madla) a local newspaper in Bulacan, Advance, a new company offering tutorial services, philippinehistory.ph, Kabarangay.com, Family Planning Organization of the Philippines, US Embassy Manila’s Jenifer Neidhart de Ortiz, Trade and Investment Officer, and US Embassy Bangkok’s Jennie Ness, Regional Intellectual Property Attaché, attended the event.

NBDB Executive Director Andrea Pasion-Flores was also present. Tweet Sering, an established chic lit writer and a newbie in the industry as publisher, graced the FILCOLS Huntahan as well.

The session started with a warm welcome from the Director of Center for Women’s Studies Dr. Sylvia Estrada-Claudio. She also invited everyone to join CWS as it celebrates Women’s Month with numerous activities especially prepared for women.

Then IPOPHL’s Attorney Sara Jane Suguitan made the participants stretch some muscles and dance for a few minutes.

After everyone was energized by the exercise, Atty. Suguitan started discussing intellectual property. She explained the basics of IP then later on zoomed in on copyright.

Next speaker was Alvin Buenaventura, FILCOLS Executive Director. He introduced FILCOLS and then proceeded to discuss the benefits of exercising the economic rights of writers. To prove his point further, he mentioned an Australian children’s literature writer who is living a comfortable life despite being a single mom.

The writer is a member of Copyright Agency Limited (CAL), the collective management organization of Australia. She receives remuneration from CAL for her works that are being photocopied in schools.

Before he ended his presentation, he encouraged everyone to join FILCOLS.

Dr. Mihaly Ficsor, president of the Hungarian Copyright Experts Council and a WIPO permanent observer, followed with a short talk on copyright in the international scene. He mentioned the WIPO Internet treaties and emphasized that the licensing scheme model in the Philippines should be voluntary. Buenaventura later on confirmed this by stating that it is the only scheme allowed under the IP Code of the Philippines.

Unyon ng mga Manunulat sa Pilipinas (UMPIL) Chair Abdon Balde Jr. presented the benefits of joining a writers’ organization. He also explained the business side of publishing. “Publishing is not just about printing what one has written. It also means being sensitive to one’s market so there will be more sales for the publisher. It also means writing about serious topics in a more interesting and fun way,” he said. He enumerated the types of books that became bestsellers in other countries.

During merienda break, participants were encouraged to raise questions about the topics that were discussed.

Grace Nicolas shared her experience about finding her work which was originally posted as a blog entry and a note on Facebook. Her work was used and discussed in a classroom. Her permission was never sought.

Atty. Suguitan advised her, if possible, to set up a meeting with the persons initiating the use of her work in a classroom. She said that it’s a good practice to put a reminder at the end of every article one posts in the internet as well. The reminder should contain steps in seeking permission from the copyright holder if anyone wishes to use or repost it.

Nicolas also expressed her concern over her works with characters that seem to be very realistic to the point that some people are asking her if she refers to them. Nicolas asked if a libel case can be filed against her for writing that kind of fiction.

Atty. Suguitan answered no. Balde backed it up by telling his version of Nicolas’ concern. One of his novels was about rampant corruption in the government. He named his characters after real people around him but he added or changed a syllable or two in the characters’ names. Some people who have similar names and characteristics to the novel’s characters read his book but did not file any case against him because his work falls under fiction. If they filed any case or got angry with Balde, it was like admitting guilt over their own sins and mistakes in the first place.

Ruth Floresca asked if infringement was committed when she saw her article posted in two big media network sites. She submitted the article to the online magazine she’s working for.

Atty. Suguitan advised her to re-examine the contract between her and the online magazine. She must check if there was an assignment of her copyright to the online magazine. If there was no contract, the copyright still belonged to the author meaning she may ask for remuneration for republication of her work in another site. She may also ask her works to be pulled out from the sites.

Aurora Yumul became the devil’s advocate for a day by saying piracy is democracy. She also expressed her dislike about people who post their works online and complain too much when their works are being copied and posted on other sites.

NBDB’s Atty. Andrea Pasion-Flores reminded Yumul that copyright holders are just like ordinary people, they are also of different types. Since copyright is a private right, copyright holders may or may not exercise their rights over their works. It means that there are copyright holders who choose to let other people reproduce their works with or without their permission. It is perfectly okay. But there are copyright holders who choose otherwise. It is perfectly okay as well.

Alice Pingol asked if it’s possible to find another publisher for her book that was funded and previously published by a research center. The book was not for sale but she noticed that a lot of her friends especially from abroad are interested to buy but are having a hard time searching for a copy in their country. She decided to reproduce it on her own (in CD format) and sold copies of it. She was concerned if her action was illegal.

Before replying, Atty. Suguitan asked Tweet Sering to impart her experiences as an independent publisher of her own book “Astigirl.” Sering shared the details of her journey to becoming one of the newest and perhaps one of the youngest independent publishers in the industry today. Sering expressed with pride that her book was launched on International Women’s Day, 8 March 2011. She also encouraged women writers to give self-publishing a try by citing important lessons and habits she acquired while doing it.

Atty. Suguitan proceeded to answer Pingol’s query. She advised her to check any contract or grant form that she signed for the research process and publication of the book. If the document forbids her to reproduce her own work in the same or another format, it means that she is not allowed to reproduce it and sell even to her own friends. But if there is no contract or the contract does not state that the publisher or the funder has exclusive rights for the reproduction of the book for a period of time, Pingol is allowed to publish her work independently or with another publisher.

The event ended with closing remarks from Beverly Siy, FILCOLS Executive Officer. She thanked media partners Herword.com and Business World especially Mr. Omar Dela Paz Itay who distributed copies of the day’s newspaper as freebies to all the participants, partners UP CSWCD and UP CWS especially Dr. Estrada-Claudio, Dr. Odine de Guzman, and Ms. Ilene de Jesus, IPOPHL especially to Atty. Louie Calvario, Atty. Mark Robert Dy, and Atty. Suguitan, UMPIL and sponsors the Norwegian Copyright Development Association (NORCODE) and KOPINOR.

This event aimed to encourage working together to address writing and publishing challenges in and outside the academe and to promote women writers’ rights in the country.


FILCOLS Huntahan sessions were previously held in Mandaluyong, Cavite, Naga, Pangasinan, and Quezon City. FILCOLS receives support from NORCODE and KOPINOR. NORCODE is an international copyright development group organized and funded by five copyright societies namely KOPINOR, GRAMO, TONO, BONO and NORWACO. KOPINOR is the reproduction rights (RRO) of Norway while FILCOLS is the RRO of the Philippines.


Written by Beverly Siy.

This press release can be copied and posted anywhere as long as the author's byline is retained. Thank you.

Post-Event FILCOLS Huntahan for Women Writers PHOTOS










Writers Gig at Wharf Galley

Verses:
Writers Gig at Wharf Galley
Open-Mic
Poetry
Music
Short Films
Books
And What-Not?
Featured Poet: Victor Dennis T. Nierva
April 9, 2011
8-9:30PM
Elias Angeles St., Naga City.