Philippines Authorities Target Cable Pirates

MANILA, February 22: The Philippines Department of Justice
(DoJ) has recommended the filing of 12 criminal copyright infringement charges
against cable operator Maguindanao Skycable CATV and its directors and
officers, including Estrellita T. Juliano-Tamano and Joaquin Tamano.

The ruling follows the filing of a complaint against
Maguindanao Skycable CATV by the Cable and Satellite Broadcasters Association
of Asia (CASBAA) on behalf of members whose channels were being illegally
transmitted on the platform. Maguindanao Skycable was accused of illegally
acquiring and transmitting copyrighted programming from AXN, CNN International,
Cartoon Network, Discovery Channel, the Disney Channel, ESPN Star Sports, HBO
Asia, MTV Asia, National Geographic, Star Movies, Star World and Star Sports.
The complaints were filed based on evidence gathered by the National Bureau of
Investigation—Intellectual Property Rights Division (NBI-IPRD) following
a period of intensive surveillance and a raid on Maguindanao Skycable's offices
and head-end in Cotabato City in the southern Philippines. If convicted, the
directors of the platform face a jail term of up to three years and fines
amounting to Pesos 150,000 ($3,116) for the first offense. The courts may also
order a convicted operator to pay damages for economic losses resulting from
the unauthorized broadcasts.

"With this decision, the DoJ strongly demonstrates the
Philippine government's strong political will to address the worsening pay-TV
piracy situation,” said Simon Twiston Davies, the CEO of CASBAA. “We are
pleased with this development and eager to see the prosecution of the
complaints.”