A friend of mine who’s into the net cafe business has told me that the Optical Media Board is also confiscating DVD Writers and other media recorders from shops.
The OMB Raiding Group has really created a strong impression of the agency since the installation of Edu Manzano, its erstwhile head.
In 2006 alone, they’ve done close to 1,000 inspections, over 1.5 Million pirated optical disks with an estimated worth of Php202,569,400. They’ve also confiscated over 258 Million worth of pirated CDs in the first 4 months of 2007. Vigilance of regular citizens reporting stalls and shops peddling pirated CDs also helped the agency do their job more effectively.
With such accomplishments comes criticisms. The unfair confiscations of DVD or CD Writers in Internet Cafe shops is one of them. The reason behind it is that the presence of these recording devices in the shops potentially opens it to illegal copying of copyrighted materials.
According to my friend “a Level Up delivery guy (of game posters) told him to hide DVD Writers and other recording devices”. This tip came from one of the managers from Netopia. Although, there have been no incident that directly verifies this, my friend and all other net cafe owners in his area are now careful than ever.
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Here’s a thought for all of you:
Let’s say we all register for this - WHAT WOULD PREVENT ANYONE FROM BURNING ILLEGAL SOFTWARE?
This registration thing is just revenue. Ahh yes, the “inherent power of the state.”
EDU MANZANO IS PARANOID.
HIS LAWYERS HAVE CONVINCED HIM THAT DVD AND CD BURNING IS ILLEGAL.
ALAM NYO BA NA PATI SELLING OF DISKETTES ILLEGAL NA RIN KASI EVEN DISKETTES DAW IS AN “OPTICAL MEDIA.”
Guys, check out
http://www.omb.gov.ph/index.php?id1=14
You’ll notice some of the memo/circulars were created 2005. Why isn’t anyone (but the OMB) aware of this?
in a nutshell
We’re talking about copyright infringement. as a general rule, the state has to obtain a search warrant before siezing private property. however, the Optical Media Board has the power to take into preventive custody any optical media and/or material or equipment, including parts, accessories and paraphernalia used for the mastering, manufacture or replication of optical media which are found in any premises if the OMB has reasonable ground to believe or suspect that these are evidence of violation of the provisions of Republic Act No. 9239, otherwise known as the Optical Media Act of 2003.
i think the net cafe owners were asked to “surrender” the dvd/cd writers and these were not “seized”.
Exactly where CAN’T you buy illegal DVD’s anymore? Seems they are everywhere. Sir DVD! Sir DVD! Sir DVD! Sir DVD! Sir DVD! Sir DVD! Sir DVD! Sir DVD!
My name is not Sir DVD! hahaah