Opinion: Gibo Teodoro’s alleged intellectual misuse of Rico Blanco’s song

Singer, composer, and living music legend Rico Blanco cries foul over an alleged intellectual misuse of his song Posible in one of presidentiable Gibo Teodoro ads referred to as Sulong Gibo.

Rico tweeted:

i’m itching to tweet about this VERY STRANGE intellectual property issue that came to my attention just last night. (via Twitter @1ricoblanco)

The aforequoted statement was just a start of series of tweets. Other pertinent tweets show that Rico would like his lawyers to handle the issue on intellectual property.

Furthermore, he tweeted:

i’d like to understand how can a presidentiable can overlook a simple matter such as intellectual property. command responsibility. (via Twitter @1ricoblanco)

The band legend also said via Twitter the the campaign ad enlisted the services of someone who has a similar singing voice.

ok finally saw it. very nice ad. but wow. they even copied my singing/voice. so it cant be that they just werent aware i existed. sakitsaulo (via Twitter @1ricoblanco)

This made many Rico Blanco fans to assume that Rico was endorsing Gibo.

On the other hand, Carlos Celdran tweeted that Viva acquired the rights to use the song:

@1ricoblanco Viva Group was paid in full for rights for song used in campaign ad. Has Viva notified you? (via Twitter @carlosceldran)

Carlos also inquired whether the rights to use the song belongs to Viva, Rivermaya, or Rico on his sole personal capacity. Evidently, Carlos’ argument was based on the right to ownership.

I do not know the other facts of the case, other than those that can be easily gleaned at the surface level.  This is a question of ownership. Ownership is a real right that can be invoked against the whole world.  Correct me if I’m wrong, but it appears that Rico’s claim is based on moral obligation only.

I am not saying that Rico is bereft of legal claim, should it be proven that Gibo did misuse his song, the use of the song might be seen to have been done in bad taste. Gibo knows his laws, codal, jurisprudence, or otherwise. He topped the bar so I guess his actions were firmly based on legal grounds. But still, as I said, Rico may not be bereft of any claim over the subject matter.

Just my two cents worth.

Disclaimer: I do not work for  nor have worked for any elected politician. I am just a simple law student, pretending to be knowledgeable on politics just because  I have a diploma on political science from UP, living a simple life, despite over-exposure to the chi-chi limelight.