WITH more young Filipino artists joining the multimedia arts wagon, there is a growing need to make them aware of the importance of intellectual property rights (IPR).
This was the message shared by Bien Marquez III, consultant for the Business Software Alliance in the Philippines, to the animation, photography and graphic design students of the School of Design and Arts (SDA)-De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, during his recent talk on “Intellectual Property and Computer Software.”
“We have a large pool of talented Filipino graphic designers, animators and digital artists who have been recognized by international organizations. With this extraordinary talent of Filipinos in the arts, there is an urgent need to increase awareness on respect for IPR and the laws governing it so that our budding artists can ensure that their works are protected from IP theft,” Marquez said.
Marquez said, “Artists and software developers share something in common: their works are protected by copyright. The artist who uses the computer software program to create graphic designs and animation and benefits from it, should likewise respect the intellectual property of software developers by ensuring that they use licensed software while developing their own works.”
BSA is the foremost organization dedicated to promoting a safe and legal digital world. Some of its members are the leading design and multimedia software developers including Adobe and Autodesk.
The BSA consultant also pointed out that computer software is a tool that helps businesses across all industries including the creative sector in terms of productivity.
The lack of awareness and appreciation for IP has resulted in high piracy rate that discourages innovation and creativity.
He said software piracy affects not just the IT industry but also the creative sector, which mainly relies on IT to become globally competitive.
Marquez cited the initiative of SDA–De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde in including a class that discusses intellectual property in their program’s curriculum.
“Schools and educators play a key role in teaching our future graphic designers, film makers and animators the importance of respecting intellectual property rights not only in their professional growth but also in building a strong Philippine society that fosters not only economic but also social and cultural development,” he says.
Budji Tresvalles, a product designer and an instructor in the SDA, recognized that one of her tasks is to mold the minds of future artists to develop a deep appreciation for intellectual property.
“I have seen the potentials and talent of our young generation and I don’t want to see so much talent go to waste because of IP theft. The creative industry relies on copyright protection in creating wealth. When our budding artists graduate from the university to pursue their creative career, they need to have a good understanding of intellectual property and the laws governing it so that they can reap the fruits of their labor,” she said. (PR)