GMA Network seeks formal inquiry over jingle

MANILA, Philippines - A Philippine group of music composers was asked to conduct a formal inquiry regarding infringement allegations against GMA Network Inc.’s marketing unit over a jingle. GMA Marketing and Productions Inc. said it hopes that the Filipino Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, Inc. (FILSCAP) would investigate claims that the company infringed on a jingle composed by Gary Granada. Although GMPI hired composer Gary Granada to write a campaign jingle for its Tripid Handog Edukasyon program, the company later rejected his study because Granada refused to come up with another version. “Left with no choice, GMPI commissioned another songwriter, Charo Unite, to compose another melody according to client specifications," GMPI said in a statement. FILSCAP “should conduct a formal inquiry" into Granada’s accusations “because the second composer, Unite, is also a FILSCAP member and after such formal investigation, impose the proper penalty under its internal rules on its erring member, if there is any," GMPI said in a statement. It is also important to note that the other composer heard Granada’s study only after she had submitted her own study of the jingle and, therefore, she could not have used Granada’s study, the company said. At the same time, GMPI continued to dismiss claims that it used Granada’s lyrics and study to come up with the approved jingle of the said campaign, GMPI said, citing an audio file sent out by Granada. “This is a lie," the company said. “GMPI first hired Granada to write the melody of the campaign jingle and provided him with the original lyrics." The company added that Unite was given access to Granada’s study after, not before, she submitted her own study of the jingle. “It was not GMA Network who created the music of the jingle, it was Unite," the company said. “If Granada is complaining of infringement or exploitation of his work, then he should run after the composer of the jingle." “Granada says that the other composer is not the issue. How can she not be the issue when it is infringement he is complaining about? Granada must know that GMA cannot be the infringer, simply because GMA did not create the work," the company said. The statement said that “malice is already evident on Granada’s repeated baseless attacks versus GMA Network." The network reserves the right to file the necessary case against Granada if these malicious attacks persist, the company said. GMA Network Inc. is the parent of Media Merge Corp., the company running GMANews.TV. - GMANews.TV