In January 2011, the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the National Library of the Philippines (NLP) whereby IPOPHL and its Satellite Offices have been given the authority to accept the registration and deposit for copyrighted works.
The registration process is simple. Only a formal examination of the documentary requirements is conducted. Upon submission of the complete requirements with IPOPHL Copyright Support Services and payment of the appropriate fees, the Copyright Registration certificate is expected to be released after five working days. Only one filing fee will be charged for the application of a work falling under multiple classes.
A summary of the documentary requirements are:
1. Duly accomplished Registration and Deposit Form
2. Affidavit of ownership or Deed of Assignment
3. Valid Identification card
4. Two original copies of the copyrighted work; Electronic copies of the copyrighted work may also be submitted online
The Philippine law on Copyrights is found in the Intellectual Property Code (Republic Act No. 8293). It is partly based on the United States Copyright Law and the principles of the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works. At present, copyrighted works are protected during the lifetime of the author plus 50 years thereafter, although there is a pending bill in Congress that would increase the term to 70 years from the lifetime of the creator.
Please note that the NLP and the Supreme Court Library will nonetheless continue to accept copyright applications.
