FIFTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
House fi No. 704

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez and
Representative Maximo 8. Rodriguez, Jr.

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 of 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 schoo! 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.

RUFUS 8."KOPRIGUEZ

MAXIMO B/ Me JR.


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

House Bill No. __'704

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez and
Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.

AN ACT
DECLARING AS UNLAWFUL THE REPRODUCTION OF COPYRIGHTED
BOOKS AND PRINTED MATERIALS THROUGH PHOTOCOPYING,
DUPLICATING, PRINTING MACHINES OR SIMILAR MEANS WITHOUT THE
WRITTEN GONSENT 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 - \t 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:

4) 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 illegelly 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 shal violate the preceding article not for profit but for
personal consumption.

SEG 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 shali 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.