14 May 2026
IPOPHL Implements Updates on the Filing and Registration Procedures for Copyright
In brief
On 25 February 2026, the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) issued Memorandum Circular No. 2026‑007, otherwise known as the Revised Rules and Regulations on Copyright Registration and Copyright Related Services (the “Rules”). The Rules took effect on 20 March 2026, fifteen (15) days after publication.
A key change under the Rules is the mandatory electronic filing of all copyright applications. Both the application and copies of the works sought to be registered, together with the required forms, must now be submitted through IPOPHL’s official electronic filing platform.
The Rules also specify grounds for refusal of copyright registration, including lack of human authorship, originality, or creative expression, public domain works, and traditional cultural expressions.
Impact and recommended actions
The Rules bring clearer and more streamlined procedures for copyright registration and related filings, most notably through the shift to fully electronic submission. Copyright owners and applicants should ensure compliance with the prescribed formats, electronic filing channels, and payment deadlines.
Under Section 172.2 of the IP Code, works are protected by the sole fact of their creation, irrespective of the mode or form of expression, as well as of their content, quality and purpose. We anticipate that the grounds for refusal of copyright registration under the new Rules, specifically the lack of human authorship or originality, may be used by the IPOPHL as basis to refuse outputs which are autonomously created by Artificial Intelligence (AI). However, if a human merely uses AI to assist in creation, copyright registration may likely be granted for the human-authored components.
Quisumbing Torres is prepared to assist clients with their copyright registrations in accordance with the revised Rules.
For further information or assistance on intellectual property matters relating to audiovisual performances, please contact Quisumbing Torres’ Intellectual Property, Data and Technology Practice Group.
In depth
These Rules provide the applicable procedures for copyright registration, amendment, cancellation, recordation, and resale enrollment administered by the IPOPHL, as set out below:
I. Electronic Filing of Application
Under the Rules, applicants1 must file copies of the works in the prescribed format,2 along with the required registration form,3 through IPOPHL’s official electronic filing platform:4
- For Single Work filings, applications shall be accomplished through the IPOPHL online portal
- For Bulk filing,5 applicants shall email their application to csd@ipophl.gov.ph
II. Review of the Application
Upon receipt of the application, it shall be reviewed to determine the following:
Completeness of the submitted documents; and
Consistency of the information provided, including authorship claims and disclaimers.6
III. Issuance of a Copyright Registrability Report
If the copyright registration specialist determines that the work is not registrable based on any of the grounds set forth below, a Copyright Registrability Report will be issued.7
IV. Request for Review
If registration is refused, the applicant may file a Request for Review with the Office of the Bureau Director within ten (10) days from receipt of the Registrability Report.8
V. Appeal
If registration is still refused despite the applicant’s Request for Review, the applicant may file an Appeal with the Office of the Director General, in accordance with IPOPHL’s Uniform Rules on Appeal, upon payment of the applicable fees.9
VI. Payment of Fees
Once the work is deemed registrable, the applicant must pay the prescribed fees under IPOPHL’s schedule of fees.10
Failure to pay within thirty (30) days from notice shall be deemed an abandonment of the application, unless the applicant notifies IPOPHL of its intent to pursue registration.11
VII. Issuance of Certificate of Registration
Upon payment of fees, an electronic Certificate of Copyright Registration shall be issued within seven (7) working days for regular applications, or within twenty (20) working days for highly technical applications.12
VIII. Publication
Successful copyright registrations shall be published on the IPOPHL website or the IPOPHL E-Gazette for public information.13
IX. Certified True Copy (CTC)
The copyright owner or any interested party may request a Certified True Copy of the copyright certificate, subject to submission of requirements and payment of fees.14
Grounds for Refusal of Copyright Registration
An application may be refused if any of the following grounds is present:15
- The work lacks human authorship;
- The work is not original or is copied from another author’s work;
- The work lacks the minimum degree of creativity (including, but not limited to, common shapes, typographic ornamentations, and basic colors);
- The work belongs to the ontological public domain;
- The work is a traditional cultural expression, unless it is a contemporary expression, performance, or derivative thereof;
- The work does not fall within the statutorily defined categories of copyrightable works;
- The applicant is not authorized to register a claim in the work;
- The named copyright owner is inconsistent with the supporting documents; or
- The work is already the subject of a prior copyright registration with either the IPOPHL or the National Library of the Philippines (NLP).
Amendment of Copyright Registration
Copyright owners may apply for amendments to their copyright certificates upon complete submission of requirements and payment of the prescribed fees.16
I. Substantive Amendments
Substantive amendments require the approval of the Bureau Director, and include:
- Changes to an author’s or copyright claimant’s legal name, citizenship, or domicile;
- Updates to the author’s or owner’s address or contact information;
- Changes to the title, including the addition of a subtitle or alternative title;
- Updates to creation or publication information; and
- Other changes deemed substantive by the Bureau Director.
II. Minor Amendments
Corrections of typographical or other minor errors do not require Bureau Director approval.
Cancellation of Copyright Registration
The Bureau Director may cancel a Certificate of Copyright Registration:17
- Motu proprio, upon discovery of fraud, material or malicious misrepresentation in the application concerning authorship, ownership, or creation of the work, or upon expiration of the copyright term; or
- Upon receipt of:
- A final court decision ordering cancellation; or
- A decision of the Bureau of Legal Affairs in a copyright infringement case ordering cancellation, unless restrained by the IPOPHL Director General.
Recordation of Assignments, Licenses, and Mortgages
The author, creator, heir, assignee, transferee, exclusive licensee, or heirs of deceased parties in interest may apply for recordation of any assignment, transfer, license, or mortgage of copyright.18
Applications will also be filed electronically through IPOPHL’s designated filing system. Applicants must submit the prescribed forms and an electronic copy of the relevant deed or contract.
Upon recordation, IPOPHL will issue an electronic certificate or transfer certificate with a notation of recordation. Notices of recordation shall be published on the IPOPHL website or the IPOPHL E-Gazette.
Enrollment of Resale Right19
Applications for the enrollment of resale rights must be filed with the prescribed forms and supporting documents and will be reviewed for completeness and compliance.20
No application will be processed unless the prescribed fees are paid within thirty (30) calendar days from issuance of the electronic statement of account.
Once a work is determined to qualify for resale rights, it will be enrolled in the Registry of Qualified Works, and an electronic certificate shall be issued within seven (7) days from such finding. The qualification and enrollment shall be published on the IPOPHL website or in the IPOPHL E-Gazette.
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1 The following may file an application for copyright registration: (i) Author or creator; (ii) Heir or successor-in-interest; (iii) Assignee of copyright; and (iv) Authorized agent or representative of a copyright owner.
2 See Rule II, Section 6 of the Rules for the prescribed formats (e.g., JPG, PDF) of copies of works to be submitted, depending on the classification of the work.
3 A copy of the prescribed registration form
4 Rule II, Section 3, Rules.
5 Bulk filing refers to “10 or more works of the same classification and created by the same author/s”.
6 Rule III, Section 1, Rules.
7 Rule IV, Section 2, Rules.
8 Rule IV, Section 3, Rules.
9 Rule IV, Section 4, Rules.
10 Table of the prescribed copyright-related fees
11 Rule III, Section 5, Rules.
12 Rule III, Section 4, Rules.
13 Rule V, Section 4, Rules.
14 Rule V, Section 5, Rules.
15 Rule IV, Section 1, Rules.
16 Rule V, Section 2, Rules.
17 Rule V, Section 3, Rules.
18 Rule VI, Rules.
19 Resale right is defined as “the inalienable right of an author or their heirs to receive royalty from the resale or lease of an original work of painting or sculpture or of the original manuscript of a writer or composer.”
20 Rule VII, Rules