AIPO celebrates Intellectual Property (IP) Week 2025

From April 21-25, 2025, the Ateneo Intellectual Property Office (AIPO) successfully held its annual Intellectual Property (IP) Week, aligning with the World IP Day 2025 theme, IP and Music: Feel the Beat of IP. This year’s IP Week aimed to explore how intellectual property rights and innovation policies empower creators, innovators, and entrepreneurs to introduce fresh ideas to the music industry while safeguarding the contributions of songwriters, composers, performers, and all those who shape the music that connects and inspires us.

This year’s IP Week celebration featured online and onsite activities at The Loft, Areté, Ateneo de Manila University.

• April 21: Copyright Awareness: The Power of IP in Music

• April 22 (morning session): IP Forward>> IP Masterclass for Musicians

• April 22 (afternoon session): Copyright Essentials for Musicians and Creators: An Areté Panel Discussion

• April 23: Tales in Tune: Creating Music Through a Humanity-Centered Approach

• April 24: Feel the Beat: The Art, The Right, The Performance

• April 25: Music, Money, Manifesting, and Mending: A Deeper Look at the Relationship Between Music and Intellectual Property

The first event, held on April 21, 2025, “Copyright Awareness: The Power of IP in Music,” was presented by Atty Exequiel Valerio, Attorney IV from the Bureau of Copyrights and Related Rights of the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL). The webinar discussed a brief overview of how copyright for music developed, from the time of classical composers up to the present, and what rights are afforded to composers, performers, and record producers. It also highlighted some important music copyright cases involving infringement, fair use, and the right of public performance, as well as several issues and challenges faced by the music industry in the age of AI.

Image: Day 1 speaker Atty Valerio discusses the invention of sound recordings and how copyright for music developed from the time of classical composers up to the present.

On April 22, two (2) sessions were held, both designed to help musicians and creators explore how to safeguard their music, establish ownership, and navigate the complexities of IP rights with confidence. The morning session on “IP Forward>> IP Masterclass for Musicians” was in collaboration with the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) through its IP Academy. A general briefer on the IPOPHL and the IP system, emphasizing its importance in the music and arts, was presented by Asst Dir Frederick Romero PhD, OIC-Director of the IP Academy. 

The session also focused on how musicians can use trademarks to protect their brands, names, and logos, as well as the process of registering a mark. Mr Benjamin Villarico, Junior Specialist from IP Academy, presented this. He also presented some case studies of successful musicians' trademarks.

The session also delved into the specifics of copyright law. Atty Nicole Joy Regencia discussed  copyright ownership and rights (reproduction, distribution, public performance, etc.). She also tackeld the registration process, highlighted the benefits of copyright protection for music creators and clarified the principles of fair use and relevant exceptions within the music industry. Meanwhile, Atty Reggie Anne Pamatian presented identifying piracy and counterfeiting in the music industry and the steps on how to take action against piracy and counterfeiting locally. 

Image: Group photo of the participants, organizers, and guest speakers from IPOPHL

The afternoon session titled “Copyright Essentials for Musicians and Creators” is a panel discussion in collaboration with the Areté. The session featured industry experts such as Atty Marivic Benedicto from the Philippine Association of Record Industries (PARI), Atty Dot Gancayco, one of the top IP lawyers, and Ms Trina Belamide, an award-winning composer. The event was moderated by Mr Noel Ferrer. The discussion focused on the real-life experiences of the panelists and their contributions to the music industry. They also discussed some cases that record producers, composers, and musicians face in protecting their copyrights.

Image: Group photo of the participants, organizers, moderator and guest panelists (from left to right: Mr Noel Ferrer, Ms Trina Belamide, Atty Dot Gancayco and Atty Marivic Benedicto)

The third event, held onsite on April 23, was a workshop titled “Tales in Tune: Creating Music through a Humanity-Centered Approach,” facilitated by Dr Aran Samson, Dr Lara Katrina  Mendoza and Ms Adrianne Delos Santos, with Dr Andrei Coronel joining as a panelist. The workshop inspires and empowers students, aspiring songwriters, creatives, and musicians to explore and refine their creative processes. Using design thinking principles, the participants work collaboratively to tackle real-world challenges in music creation and collaboration, fostering both their artistic and business sensibilities.

Image: Organizers and Participants of the Design Thinking Workshop

The 4th event was a session titled “Feel the Beat: The Art, The Right, The Performance.” The talk was conducted by Dr Michael Young, a music expert and professor. He shared his real-life success stories by leveraging IP rights to gain creative and financial independence and inspire creators on how they can use IP to fuel advocacy, cultural preservation, and innovation.

Image: Group photo of the Day 4 participants

The fifth and last event for IP Week was an online session titled “Music, Money, Manifesting, and Mending: A Deeper Look at the Relationship Between Music and Intellectual Property” presented by Atty Aileen Sicat. She highlighted how creators can protect, monetize, and manifest value from their work while addressing challenges and opportunities in the evolving music landscape.

Image: Atty Sicat elaborating on the relationship between music and intellectual property.

IP Week 2025 was a resounding success, bringing together industry experts, creators, and innovators to explore the critical role of intellectual property in the music industry. The weeklong event provided meaningful discussions on how innovation policies can empower the next generation of creators and entrepreneurs. It also highlighted the significant contributions of the music industry in connecting, inspiring, and transforming society

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To explore more IP-related events like these, you may visit www.aipo.ateneo.edu or email us at aipo@ateneo.edu. You may also check out our Facebook and LinkedIn pages for the latest updates and announcements.