Defending creativity: Globe urges action to safeguard P2-trillion industry from online piracy

By San Matildo

Globe is calling on lawmakers to take decisive action against online piracy, warning that unchecked illegal streaming and downloading could undermine the country’s booming creative economy, which the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) projects to hit as much as P2 trillion in gross domestic product (GDP) this year.

The creative sector—which includes film, music, gaming, design, and digital content—has been one of the Philippines’ fastest-growing industries.

In 2024, it contributed ₱1.94 trillion in gross value added, an 8.7 percent increase from the previous year. But as the industry grows, so does the threat of piracy.

“The creative industry has the potential to be one of the Philippines’ most powerful drivers of growth. Protecting it from piracy means protecting jobs, investments, and the future of Filipino talent,” said Globe President and CEO Carl Cruz. “Every illegal download is a peso taken from Filipino artists and the economy. We cannot allow illegal sites to rob creators of their hard work and deprive the economy of billions in value.”

Piracy websites do more than drain revenues from creators—they also expose consumers to scams, malware, and identity theft. Despite these risks, efforts to strengthen anti-piracy measures in Congress have so far stalled.

In the 19th Congress, House Bill 7600—filed by then Albay 2nd District Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda—sought to introduce site-blocking powers to shut down piracy websites.

Companion measures were also filed in the Senate by former Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla and Senators Joel Villanueva, Loren Legarda, and Mark Villar.

While the House bill was approved on third reading in May 2023 and advanced to two Senate hearings, the proposal failed to progress further after the Senate Committee on Trade did not issue a committee report.

Now that the 20th Congress is in session, Globe is renewing its call for lawmakers to refile and pass site-blocking legislation that would authorize the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) to direct telecom operators to block access to piracy sites.

“Passing site-blocking legislation is a critical step in ensuring Filipino artists, musicians, animators, and writers are fairly compensated, while preserving the Philippines’ competitiveness in the global creative economy where site-blocking is already a standard practice,” the company said.

Globe has long worked with government and industry partners to curb piracy through awareness campaigns, stronger consumer protection measures, and enforcement support.

“As one of the country’s leading telecommunications operators, Globe expressed readiness to comply with site-blocking orders once enabled by law,” the company said.