Comelec, IPOPHL encourage poll bets to create own campaign jingles

(From left to right) Comelec Commissioner Ernesto Maceda Jr., Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia, IPOPHL Officer-in-Charge Director General Nathaniel Arevalo, and IPOPHL Deputy Director General for Operations Ann Claire Cabochan sign the memorandum of agreement between the Comelec and IPOPHL on Friday, January 24, 2025. INQUIRER.net / DIANNE SAMPANG
MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) on Friday encouraged poll bets to create their own campaign jingles to avoid violation of intellectual property rights.
The Comelec and the IPOPHL signed a memorandum of agreement to ensure that the intellectual property (IP) rights of artists are not violated for the purpose of the 2025 elections.
READ: Campaign jingle: IPOPHL tells candidates to respect artists’ rights
“This is a warning for poll aspirants who are using and will use [campaign jingles], think of your own tunes and not use others’ creation, unless you secured a permission from the artists,” Garcia said in Filipino during his speech.
IPOPHL Deputy Director General for Operations Ann Claire Cabochan explained that the tune of songs are already protected of IP rights even if the lyrics are different from the artist’s composure.
Article continues after this advertisement“When it comes to the permission, it should be secured with the artist, and not to the IPOPHL,” Cabochan added.
Article continues after this advertisementCabochan also said that song composers and the aspirants must reach an agreement to use the songs.
She also shared that there were five cases filed during the 2022 elections for using an artist’s song for campaign jingles without permission. She said that among these cases, one was resolved while the other four cases are still pending.
READ: Comelec warns BSKE candidates vs vulgar campaign jingles
Meanwhile, Garcia said that the song bought and used in the campaign must be declared in the aspirant’s statement of contribution and expenditures.
IPOPHL General Rowel Barba previously said that those who copyrighted songs without proper permission from the artists may face complaints based on the Republic Act No. 8293 or the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines.
According to Bureau of Copyright and Related Rights Director Emerson Cuyo, poll aspirants and political parties can contact the following IPOPHL-accredited collective management organizations to secure licenses and permission to use their works:
- Filipino Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, Inc.
- Philippine Recorded Music Rights Inc.
- Independent Music Producers of the Philippines
- Sounds Recording Rights Society, Inc.