 Fulbright
Scholar Stories |
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David J. Moser
Assistant Professor, Curb School of Music Business, Massey School of Business, Belmont University, Nashville, Tennessee
Research: An Analysis and Comparison of Intellectual Property Law and Its Enforcement in the Philippines and the United States
Host: Ateneo Law School, Ateneo de Manila University, Manila, Philippines
May – December 2003
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Makati City Outdoor Church |
David Moser teaches classes in intellectual property and entertainment law at Belmont University’s popular Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business and is also an entertainment attorney in Nashville, Tennessee. In 2003, Moser received a Fulbright Scholar grant which allowed him to spend three months in the Philippines conducting research on intellectual property piracy and its effect on the Filipino music and film industries. The piracy rates in the Philippines are estimated to be as high as 85 percent, which costs the Filipino entertainment industries close to $178 million.
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US Embassy Fulbright Reception |
Moser chose the Philippines for his research because it was identified on the United States’ Priority Watch List in 2002 as one of the worst intellectual property violators due, in large part, to increasing optical disk piracy. Moser notes that although still a major problem, the Philippines has taken some important steps to reducing disc manufacturing piracy by passing the Optical Media Act in early 2004 and increasing the number of raids of illegal manufacturing plants. Moser also believes that piracy is not solely a legal problem.
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Subic |
“Piracy in developing countries such as the Philippines with a large poor population cannot be equated to piracy in highly developed countries such as the United States. Although music CDs and movie DVDs are offered for sale at reduced prices (compared to American standards), many Filipinos still can’t afford to buy legal copies. Unless the overall standard of living is improved, a drastic reduction in piracy is not likely. The irony is that with high piracy rates, the growth of industries based on intellectual property such as music, film, computer software and other technology is severely hindered,” said Moser
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Puerto Gallera Beach |
In addition to his research, Moser also conducted guest lectures at Ateneo de Manila Law School and the University of the Philippines Law School. Moser was impressed with the quality of students he encountered. Although not a common area of legal practice in the Philippines, the students were attentive and showed a great interest in entertainment law. “I was very pleasantly surprised when, a few days after speaking to one class, the professor contacted me to tell me his students had asked if I could come back for another class session,” Moser recalls.
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String Quartet at US Embassy |
The Tennessee resident thoroughly enjoyed his time in the Philippines, not only for the scholarly opportunity, but also for a chance to experience Filipino culture and to live in a different part of the world. “I found the Filipino people in general to be very friendly and I was amazed by the number of talented singers and musicians I encountered. While the high rate of piracy is a serious impediment, I hope that over time, the Filipino music industry will be able to grow and develop to the point where more Filipinos can make a living making music in their home country as well as exposing their music to the rest of the world.”
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Subic Bay Beach Resort |
Although based in Manila, Moser also enjoyed traveling around the Philippines, including visiting some World War II sites such as Bataan and Corregidor as well as visiting a few relaxing beach resorts. Moser’s Fulbright Scholar experience has encouraged him to do further work on piracy in Asia and has sparked in him an interest in Asian history and culture. For Moser, his Fulbright Scholar grant allowed him to fulfill Senator J. William Fulbright’s hope of promoting “mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries of the world.”
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--J. William Fulbright |
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