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Piracy
Piracy is an important issue in e-commerce
because of the ease with which illegal reproduction of software, music
or any intellectual work in digital format can be carried out.
Legal protection of intellectual property is
an important element in any country’s policy and legal framework for
e-commerce. In 1997, the Philippines enacted RA 8293__An act
prescribing the Intellectual Property Code and establishing the
Intellectual Property Office. This law covers provisions governing
copyright and related rights, trademarks and service marks, geographic
indications, industrial designs, patents, lay-out designs
(topographies) of integrated circuits, and undisclosed information.
The Philippine is also party to a number of
international treaties and/or organizations aimed at protecting
intellectual property, such as the Berne Convention for the protection
of Literary and Artistic Works (Paris Act of 24 July 1971, as amended
on 28 September 1971); the Paris Convention for the Protection of
Industrial Property (which was ratified by the Philippines on July 16,
1980, except for Articles 1-12); the International Convention for the
Protection of Performers, Production of Phonograms and Broadcasting
Organizations (Rome, September 25, 1984); and the WIPO Copyright
Treaty adopted by the Diplomatic Conference on September 1996.
Are there international bodies on
IPR protection?
Yes, The World Intellectual Property rights
Organizations (WIPO) cited earlier is a specialized UN body
responsible for the promotion of the protection of intellectual
property throughout the world, through cooperation among States, and
for the administration of various multilateral treaties dealing with
the legal and administrative aspects of intellectual property. The
main texts adopted by WIPO are the Trademark Law Treaty, the WIPO
Copyright Treaty and the WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty and
the Agreement between the World Intellectual Property Organization and
the World Trade Organization.
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