Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Batasang Pambansa, Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. _3263

INTRODUCED BY REP. JOSEPH VICTOR G. EJERCITO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Illegal reproduction of copyrighted books and printed materials
through photocopying, duplication and printing machines has harmful
effects not only to the authors and publishers of said books but also to
the country and citizenry.

Authors would not only be deprived of the economic benefits in
the form of royalties and revenue but it would also stop the sharing of
knowledge and progress of thought because of the disincentive that
would be created by such illegal practice. Proliferation of varied
reading materials essential to the country’s intellectual and economic
growth would eventually cease to exist if the scenario remains
unabated.

It is a public knowledge that photocopying, duplicating and
printing machines located near or within the premises of educational
institutions are at times being used to illegally reproduce copyrighted
books and materials with the presumed knowledge and consent of the
school officials.

The bill therefore seeks to eradicate the nefarious effects of
illegal reproduction of copyrighted books and printed materials through
the joint efforts of the schools, universities, etc., operators of
photocopying, duplicating and printing machines and buyers or users
by making the owners or the highest officers of concerned educational
institutions liable criminally through the pertinent provisions of the
Proposed measure without prejudice to penalties already imposed by
Copyright Law and Revised Penal Code and other appropriate laws.

In view of the foregoing, immediate passage of this bill is
earnestly requested.

JOSEPH VICTOR G. EJERCITO


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Batasang Pambansa, Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNo. 0263

INTRODUCED BY REP. JOSEPH VICTOR G. EJERCITO

AN ACT
DECLARING AS UNLAWFUL THE REPRODUCTION OF
COPYRIGHTED BOOKS AND PRINTED MATERIALS THROUGH
PHOTOCOPYING, DUPLICATING, PRINTING MACHINES OR
SIMILAR MEANS WITHOUT THE WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE
COPYRIGHT OWNER, WHETHER THE PUBLISHER OR THE
AUTHOR OR BOTH

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Illegal Reproduction - It shall be unlawful for any
person to reproduce copyrighted books and printed materials through
photocopying, duplicating, printing machines or similar means without
the written consent of the copyright owner, whether the publisher, or
the author, or both.

SEC. 2. Penalty - Those who shall violate the preceding section
shall suffer the following penalties, without prejudice to those imposed
by pertinent provisions of the Revised Penal Code (RPC), the
Intellectual Property Code (R.A. 8293) and other special penal laws:

1) Imprisonment of twelve (12) years plus a fine ranging
between P100,000.00 to P 250,000.00 imposed against the
operator of an establishment illegally reproducing said materials
for profit. In the event that the establishment is carried on by a
corporation or any other juridical entity, the responsible officers
thereof shall be made to suffer.

2) Imprisonment of five (5) years and a fine of P50,000.00
imposed against the employees of said establishment, unless
they can prove that they act through compulsion or any other
form of coercion.


3) Imprisonment of two (2) years and a fine of P10,000.00
imposed against anyone who shall buy any of the illegally
reproduced materials as mentioned in this Act.

4) Imprisonment of one (1) year or a fine of P 10,000.00
imposed against any person who shall violate the preceding
article not for profit but for personal consumption.

SEC. 3. All schools, universities and other educational
institutions, through its highest officers, that allows the operation of
photocopying, duplicating and printing machines within their premises,
or within ten (10) meters from the said educational institutions shall
be jointly and severally liable as principal for the illegal reproduction of
copyrighted books and printed materials.

SEC. 4. Within ninety (90) days from the approval of this Act,
the Secretary of the Department of Justice (DOJ), in consultation and
Coordination with associations of publishers, writers and authors shall
formulate and promulgate the necessary implementing rules and
regulations of this Act.

SEC. 5. All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations and
other issuances, or parts thereof which are inconsistent with or
contrary to any provision of this Act are hereby deemed repealed or
amended accordingly.

SEC. 6. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
complete publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation or in
the Official Gazette.

Approved,