PHILIPPInEs
PHILIPPInEs
tHE sUPREME CoURt foUnD tHAt tHE MUst CARRY
RULE fALLs UnDER tHE LIMItAtIons on CoPYRIGHt
rebroadcasting of Channels 2 and 23 infringed its broadcasting rights transmitted content”. PMSI merely carries existing signals in unaltered form;
and copyright. does not produce, select or determine the programmes to be shown; does not
pass itself off as the origin or author of such programmes; retransmits ABS-
Must carry rule as a limitation on copyright CBN’s free-to-air channels in accordance with the must carry rule; and buys
Section 184 of the Intellectual Property (IP) Code, provides for a limitation
premium channels from content providers and transmits them as they come.
on the use made of a work under government direction or control, where
Since PMSI does not qualify as a broadcasting organisation, the Supreme
such use is in the public interest and compatible with fair use doctrines.
Court held that its retransmission of ABS-CBN’s signals does not constitute
Th e carriage by PMSI of ABS-CBN’s signals by virtue of the ‘must carry
rebroadcasting. PMSI cannot be considered to have infringed ABS-
rule’ is under the direction and control of the government, as imposed
CBN’s broadcasting rights under Section 211 of the IP Code, which gives
by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC). Th e legislative
broadcasting organisations the exclusive right to carry out, authorise or
franchises granted to both ABS-CBN and PMSI are privileges, and may be
prevent the rebroadcasting of their broadcasts.
reasonably burdened with the performance by the grantees of some form of
public service, such as the must carry rule imposed by the NTC.
Anne Mariae Celeste Jumadla is an associate at Sapalo Velez Bundang &
Accordingly, the Supreme Court found that the must carry rule falls under
Bulilan. She can be contacted at: cvj@sapalovelez.com
the limitations on copyright of Section 184. Th erefore, PMSI’s carriage of
ABS-CBN’s free-to-air channels is not copyright infringement.
Broadcasting and rebroadcasting
Anne Mariae Celeste Jumadla obtained her Bachelor of
PMSI has not been shown to provide the public with decryption services, and
science and Master of Chemistry degrees from the Ateneo
therefore its service does not fall under the IP Code defi nition of broadcasting
de Manila University, and her LLB from the University of the
or the defi nition of rebroadcasting under the 1961 Rome Convention.
Philippines. she is an attorney at law, a registered chemist
According to a working paper prepared by the Secretariat of the Standing
and patent agent, a lecturer at the IP training Institute of IP
Committee on Copyright and Related Rights, PMSI was found not to be a
Philippines, and has been trained by the JPo/JIII and EPo/
EC-AsEAn IPR programmes.
broadcasting organisation, as it does not “take the fi nancial and editorial
responsibility for the selection and arrangement of, and investment in, the
128 World Intellectual Property Review Digest 2009 www.worldipreview.com
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