4. Limitations on Copyright

Limitations on Copyright

While the State secures the exclusive rights of artists, scientists, and gifted citizens to their intellectual creations, the use of intellectual property bears a social function¹. To promote the diffusion of knowledge and information for the common good, the law provides statutory limitations where certain acts do not constitute copyright infringement.

Under Section 184.1 of Republic Act No. 8293, the following acts do not constitute infringement of copyright:

• Private or charitable recitation or performance: The recitation or performance of a work, once it has been lawfully made accessible to the public, if done privately and free of charge, or if made strictly for a charitable or religious institution or society²;
• Quotations: The making of quotations from a published work if compatible with fair use and only to the extent justified for the purpose, including press summaries of newspaper articles and periodicals, provided that the source and the author's name, if appearing on the work, are mentioned²;
• Mass media reproduction of current articles and speeches: The reproduction or communication to the public by mass media of articles on current political, social, economic, scientific, or religious topics, as well as lectures, addresses, and similar works delivered in public, if such use is for information purposes, has not been expressly reserved, and clearly indicates the source²; and
• Current events reporting: The reproduction and communication to the public of literary, scientific, or artistic works as part of reports of current events by means of photography, cinematography, or broadcasting, to the extent necessary for the purpose².