Philippines clamps down on copyright infringers

Philippines - The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) of the Philippines has served its first temporary restraining order against a pirate cable operator - Turtle Cable for copyright infringement.

Simon Twiston Davies, CEO of the Cable & Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (CASBAA), said it was the first time a cable piracy case had been initiated in the Philippines.

"We are pleased that the IPO administrative judge has recognized the validity of the TV industry's concerns about protecting our intellectual property," he said,

The order prevents Turtle Cable from re-distributing international cable channels for which it does not have a distribution contract. Further arguments on the case will be heard in June and July before a final injunction will be considered.

At the end of the process, if the IPO issues an injunction and the cable company persists, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) will be asked to revoke Turtle Cable's operating license.

In other news, cable operator Maguindanao Skycable is also in trouble for alleged copyright infringement. The cases against Maguindanao Skycable stem from complaints by TV channel owners that the company pirated their signals and distributed them to customers without authorization and payment of the required copyright licensing fees.

The Department of Justice has decided to proceed with the cases with no further motion for reconsideration.