A game procedure is not copyrightable

Dear PAO,

I have seen a lot of interesting games in TikTok and Facebook. True enough, the ingenuity of the format and procedure of some of these videos are quite impressive. As such, I wonder whether the format or procedure of these games are copyrightable?Maria

Dear Maria,

A format or a procedure of a game is not copyrightable. To elucidate this point, allow me to lead your attention to the pertinent laws and jurisprudence enunciating on the matter. Succinctly, Section 172 of Republic Act (R.A.) No. 8293, otherwise known as the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines, dictates the works subject of copyright while Section 175 of the same law covers the unprotected subject matter, viz: