RA 10372 – An Act Amending Certain
Provisions Of Republic Act No. 8293,
Otherwise Known As The “Intellectual
Property Code Of The Philippines”. And
For Other Purposes
Republic of the Philippines
Congress of the Philippines
Metro Manila
Fifteenth Congress
Third Regular Session
Begun and held in Metro Manila, on Monday, the twenty-third day of July, two thousand twelve.
[Republic Act No. 10372]
AN ACT AMENDING CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8293, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE “INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES”. AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. Section 6 of Republic Act No. 8293, otherwise known as the “Intellectual
Property Code of the Philippines”,
“SEC. 6. The Organization Structure of the IPO.
“6.2. The Office shall be divided into seven (7)
Bureaus, each of which shall be headed by a Director and assisted by an Assistant
Director. These Bureaus are:
“(f) The administrative. Financial and Personnel Services Bureaus and
“(g) The Bureaus of Copyright and Other Related Rights.”
Sec. 2. Section 7 of Republic Act No. 8293 is hereby amended to read as follows:
“Sec. 7. The Director General and Deputies Director General.
“(b) Exercise exclusive appellate jurisdiction over all decisions rendered by the Director
of Legal Affairs, the Director of Patents, the Director of Trademarks, the Director of
Copyright and Other Related Rights, and the Director of the Documentation, Information
and Technology Transfer Bureau. The decisions of the Director General in the exercise
of his appellate jurisdiction in respect of the decision of the Direction of Patents, the
Director of Trademarks and Director of Copyright and Other Related Rights shall be
appealable of the Court of Appeals in accordance with the rules of Court; and those in
respect of the decisions of the Director of the Documentation, Information and
Technology Transfer Bureau shall be appealable to the Secretary of Trade and Industry;
“(c) Undertake enforcement functions supported by concerned agencies such as the
Philippine National Police, the National Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Customs,
the Optical media Board, and the local government units, among others;
“(d) Conduct visits during reasonable hours to establishments and businesses engaging
in activities violating intellectual property rights and provisions of this act based on
report, information or complaint received by the office; and
“(e) Such other functions in furtherance of protecting IP rights and objectives of this
Act.”
Sec. 3. A new Section 9A is hereby inserted after section 9 of Republic Act No. 8293, to
read as follows:
“Sec. 9A. The Bureau of Copyright and Other Related Rights. The Bureau of Copyright
and Other Related Rights shall have the following functions:
“9A. 1. Exercise original jurisdiction to resolve disputes relating to the terms of a license
involving the author’s right to public performance or other communication of his work;
“9A. 2. Accept, review and decide on application for the accreditation of collective
management organization or similar entities;
“9A. 3. Conduct studies and researches in the field of copyright and related rights; and
“9A. 4. Provide other copyright and related rights service and charge reasonable fees
therefore.”