Managing IP is part of the Delinian Group, Delinian Limited, 4 Bouverie Street, London, EC4Y 8AX, Registered in England & Wales, Company number 00954730
Copyright © Delinian Limited and its affiliated companies 2023

Accessibility | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Modern Slavery Statement
Expert AnalysisLocal Insights

Philippines: unlicensed radio broadcast is copyright infringement

Sponsored by

hechanova-400px.png
radio-821602.jpg

Editha Hechanova of Hechanova Group analyses recent Philippine case law that has significant implications for businesses that wish to play radio music on their premises

Is the unlicensed playing of radio broadcasts as background music in restaurants copyright infringement? Yes, according to the Supreme Court (SC) in the case of Filipino Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers Inc. (FILSCAP) vs. Anrey, Inc., published in June. The SC ordered Anrey to pay FILSCAP l0,000,00 Philippine pesos (PHP) as temperate damages for the unlicensed public performance of the copyrighted songs from FILSCAP's repertoire and PHP 50,000,00 as attorney's fees.

FILSCAP is a collective management organisation accredited by the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) and is a member of the Paris-based International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers. FILSCAP assists its members in the enforcement of their economic and moral rights, and owns the right to license public performances of the copyrighted works of its members.

Sometime between July and September 2008, FILSCAP found the chain of Sizzling Plate restaurants owned by Anrey playing copyrighted songs of its members without licence. FILSCAP sent several letters to Anrey demanding payment of annual licence fees for said public performance, which Anrey ignored, resulting in FILSCAP suing Anrey for copyright infringement.

In its defence, Anrey claimed that its restaurants play whatever is being broadcast on the radio station they are tuned into, and even if the broadcast played copyrighted music, the radio stations have already paid the corresponding royalties. Thus, FILSCAP would be recovering twice: from the station that broadcast the copyrighted music, and from its restaurants. Anrey further claimed that the public performance, if it were such, were only for its employees, and thus is not copyright infringement.

The Regional Trial Court dismissed FILSCAP’s complaint on the ground that the IP Code exempts public performances by a club or institution for charitable or educational purposes, provided they are not profit making and do not charge admission fees. FILSCAP appealed to the Court of Appeals (CA), which likewise denied the appeal based on the application of the exemption known in the US as ‘the homestyle and business exemption’, designed for small businesses to use television or radio sets within its premises.

The Supreme Court, however, reversed the CA decision, stating that under Section 177.6 of the IP Code, public performance is an exclusive economic right of the author, and unless the act falls within the ambit of fair use, is copyright infringement. While Anrey does not directly charge a fee for playing radio broadcasts over its speakers, it can enhance profit by providing entertainment to the public, particularly its customers, who pay for the dining experience in Anrey’s restaurants.

The SC also ruled that Anrey’s act, applying the four-factor application and analysis, is not fair use, declaring:

  1. The purpose and character of the use of the copyrighted songs are commercial;

  2. The nature of the copyrighted songs is creative rather than factual, and thus fair use is weighed against the user, Anrey;

  3. An exact reproduction of the copyrighted songs is made when they are played via radio-over-loudspeakers, not just small portions thereof; and

  4. The use of the copyrighted songs in this case could "result in a substantially adverse impact on the potential market” for said songs.

The SC, however, commented further that the broad definition of a public performance in the IP Code is a cause for concern: “By the mere definition of what a public performance is, listeners of a radio station, to some extent, risk copyright infringement.” The SC recommended lawmakers amend the IP Code, and adopt the WTO three-step test to determine whether the limitation or exception on the rights of an owner exceed said threshold. This would mean they:

  1. Must be confined to certain special cases;

  2. Cannot conflict with a normal exploitation of the work; and

  3. Cannot unreasonably prejudice the legitimate interests of the rights holder.

These tests can also be applied cumulatively.

more from across site and ros bottom lb

More from across our site

Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas has hired former Anand & Anand partner Swati Sharma and hopes to compete with specialist IP firms
Rapporteur-Judge András Kupecz ruled that education and training weren’t legitimate reasons for a member of the public to access documents
Searches for comparison prior art will be a little easier, but practitioners will have to put more thought into claim construction and design patent titles
The Helsinki local division rejected AIM Sport’s request for a preliminary injunction in a dispute with rival Supponor
We provide a rundown of Managing IP’s news and analysis coverage from the week, and review what’s been happening elsewhere in IP
The FTC’s plans to scrutinise improperly listed Orange Book patents could make these listings more important in litigation, but firms should be looking at this anyway
Counsel at Debevoise & Plimpton explain how they helped food delivery business Grubhub avoid a preliminary injunction at the Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
European lawyers tell Managing IP how the legal market is reacting to the first few months of the UPC and why cases are set to take off
The ban could be extended or cancelled, depending on whether Judge Pauline Newman cooperates with an investigation, the Judicial Council of the Federal Circuit stated
Sources say some China-based lawyers are prepared to take large pay cuts to join stable practices, but most firms are sceptical about new hires