| MUMBAI:
The Cable and Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (CASBAA) and the Philippine
Cable Television Association (PCTA) have signed an agreement reinforcing their
partnership to promote and protect intellectual property rights in the pay-TV
industry. CASBAA CEO Simon Twiston
Davies said, "Our commitment to support the growth of the domestic market
in the Philippines and to protect its viability in the face of rampant piracy
gains strength with our partnership with the PCTA. Through cooperative efforts,
CASBAA and the PCTA aim to attain real results in the coming months." CASBAA
and the PCTA plan to jointly organize a Philippine Pay-TV Summit this year in
order to raise industry and public sector awareness on intellectual property issues
for cable, satellite and broadband markets in the Philippines. They have also agreed to
work with the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) on an educational training scheme
designed to help law enforcement and government officials as they work to combat
piracy.
PCTA President Antonio Selda said,"We at the PCTA have long
been vocal in the campaign against all forms of copyright infringement. Signal
theft, in particular, has a negative impact on the industry in the long-term.
Legitimate cable operators are finding it difficult to survive in this climate,
and the industry as a whole stands to suffer if piracy continues. Increasingly
piracy stunts the industry's growth in terms of programming and technological
development. The number of illegal cable connections in the Philippines is close
to overtaking the number of legal subscriptions." | 
