In a landmark participation at the Frankfurt Book Fair 2025, the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) spearheaded critical discussions on intellectual property (IP) protection, AI’s impact on publishing, and the global scaling of Filipino creative content. This active role comes as the Philippines celebrates its inaugural status as the fair’s Guest of Honor, a historic first for the country.
Leading several key sessions on the prestigious Asia Stage, IPOPHL officials emphasized how strategic IP management is crucial for empowering creatives, ensuring fair competition, and navigating the challenges of the digital age. The panels were part of the Philippines’ largest-ever delegation to the fair, featuring over 400 creatives and stakeholders.
IPOPHL’s involvement featured three major panel discussions focusing on the intersection of copyright and the evolving publishing industry:
- AI and Publishing: Bureau of Copyright and Related Rights (BCRR) Director Emerson G. Cuyo moderated the panel “Publishing in the Time of AI,” exploring the profound influence of artificial intelligence on authorship, copyright ownership, and creative production and licensing.
- The Creative Economy: A session on “Creative Industries and Publishing,” moderated by IPOPHL Deputy Director General Ann Claire C. Cabochan, examined the sector’s economic and cultural value. The discussion highlighted how copyright and IP empower professionals, support entrepreneurship, and promote fairer access to global markets.
- Filipino Comics on the World Stage: Leonor G. Reyes, Chief of BCRR’s Creative Sector Development Division, led the panel “Comics: From Fantasy to Reality.” The conversation focused on using IP to protect comic creators, scale original content like graphic literature, and meet the growing international demand for Filipino stories.
The Philippines’ role as Guest of Honor at the Frankfurt Book Fair 2025 marks a significant milestone, showcasing the nation’s literary and creative talents on one of the world’s most prominent cultural platforms. Under the theme “Imagination Peoples the Air,” from Dr. Jose Rizal’s “Noli Me Tangere,” the country is presenting over 700 titles across various genres and languages.
The Asia Stage, where IPOPHL moderated its panels, is a platform envisioned by Rex Education in partnership with Frankfurt Buchmesse and supported by the National Book Development Board, designed to spotlight Asia’s diverse literary voices.
The Frankfurt Book Fair 2025, the world’s largest trade fair for books, is being held from October 15 to 19 at the Messe Frankfurt Exhibition Grounds in Germany.#
