Question & AnswerQ&A (Act No. 3134)
The title of Act No. 3134 is the Copyright Law of the Philippine Islands.
Any citizen of the Philippine Islands or of the United States may secure copyright for any work falling within the specified classes.
Protected works include books, periodicals, lectures, dramatic compositions, musical compositions, maps, works of art, photographs, prints, translations, adaptations, and other writings as enumerated in Section 2.
The proprietor has the exclusive rights to print, publish, copy, distribute, sell, make adaptations, perform, and make other uses consistent with the law (Section 3).
Articles and other writings published without authors' names or under pseudonyms are considered the property of the publishers (Section 4).
Yes, lines, passages, or paragraphs may be quoted for comment, dissertation, or criticism, and news items may be reproduced unless a reserved publication notice is present (Section 5).
Yes, no copyright subsists in works in the public domain, official government documents, or speeches and addresses in courts, tribunals, and public meetings (Section 8).
Copyright lasts for 30 years from registration, with a possible renewal for another 30 years if applied within one year prior to expiration (Section 18).
Penalties include injunctions, payment of damages up to 10,000 pesos, fines from 200 to 2,000 pesos, imprisonment up to one year, or both fines and imprisonment (Sections 19 and 20).
The copyright claim must be registered, and two complete copies or one copy if part of a periodical must be deposited with the Director of the Philippine Library and Museum with required notice of copyright (Section 11).
No, such works cannot be copyrighted, and if discovered after copyright is granted, the copyright becomes null and void with possible criminal prosecution (Section 13).
Importation is prohibited for piratical copies or articles falsely bearing Philippine copyright unless under specific authorized circumstances like personal use, government use, or use by charitable or educational institutions (Section 22).
No, copyright is distinct from the property in the material object; conveyance of copyright does not transfer the physical object (Section 25).
Yes, registration fees include three pesos for registration, two pesos for assignments or licenses filed, and one peso for certified copies (Section 33).
The Director of the Philippine Library and Museum, subject to approval by the Secretary of Justice, is responsible (Sections 29 and 33).