Online Piracy Is Killing the Philippine Entertainment Industry
November 28, 2024Online Piracy Is Killing the Philippine Entertainment Industry
The Philippine entertainment industry is facing an existential threat from rampant online piracy. CitizenWatch Philippines is calling on the Senate to pass the long-delayed Online Site Blocking Act to save the entertainment industry from collapse.
The Philippine entertainment industry could be contributing billions to the economy if not for rampant piracy of Filipino produced content. Online piracy is not a minor issue but a severe threat that is draining the lifeblood out of our creative sector. Artists, filmmakers, producers, and countless behind-the-scenes workers are losing their livelihoods to digital pirates who operate unchecked.
The impact of piracy is staggering. According to industry data reported during the recently held Symposium on Piracy in the Philippines organized by the Alliance for Creative Entertainment (ACE), IPOPHL, GMA Network, and Globe, in 2022 alone, the industry lost PHP 781 million in revenue due to rampant online video piracy.
Meanwhile, box office sales plummeted by 47% in 2018, and the Metro Manila Film Festival’s gross revenues nosedived from PHP 1.6 billion in 2018 to a mere PHP 30 million in 2020.
These statistics are not just numbers—they represent lost jobs, shuttered production studios, and the stifling of the development of Philippine arts and culture.
This not only deprives local creators of income but also exposes users to scams, malware, and identity theft perpetrated by tricking users with click baits that lead them download malware and fake registration pages to capture sensitive personal information.
Piracy isn’t just an issue of intellectual property theft; piracy websites are primary conduits of cybercrime that puts millions of Filipino internet users at risk.
The Online Site Blocking Act has been pending for three years. This legislation is critical to rescuing an industry that loses billions annually to rampant online piracy.
It aims to strengthen the country’s Intellectual Property Code, enabling authorities to swiftly block access to websites that distribute pirated content. By empowering the IPOPHL, ISPs and the telcos to take decisive action against piracy, we can protect our creative industries and the Filipino consumers from cybercrime syndicates.
Every day that the bill is delayed, the entertainment industry bleeds more revenue and depresses the income of thousands of its workers and their dependents.
Passing the Online Site Blocking Act will give the government and the telcos the mandate they need to shut down piracy websites, penalize offenders, and create a safer online environment for Filipino consumers.
The creative industry is more than just entertainment—it’s a vital component of the Philippines’ socio-cultural and economic growth. By taking a stand against online piracy, the government can protect this crucial sector, ensuring it remains vibrant, competitive, and capable of producing the quality content that Filipinos deserve.
We must support our artists, filmmakers, and cultural creators who contribute so much to our society, not only economically but also in enriching our national identity.
Once again, CitizenWatch Philippines is urging the Senate to prioritize the passage of the Online Site Blocking Act—not just for the industry, but for the thousands of creative workers whose livelihoods are at stake.
Atty. Tim Abejo
Co-convenor