The National Institute for the Defense of Competition and the Protection of Intellectual Property (Indecopi) has urged candidates in the general elections to refrain from using characters protected by copyright in their electoral advertising. This warning comes after detecting that several candidates are using images of well-known characters, such as those from Dragon Ball, El Chavo del Ocho, and Star Wars, without proper authorization.
Indecopi reminded that the use of creative works, including music and images, requires permission from their holders or from collective management societies. The regulations stipulate that any infringement may result in administrative fines of up to 180 UIT and criminal penalties of up to 8 years in prison. In the past, in 2021, a political group was fined for infringing copyright in a promotional video.
Among the candidates mentioned are Jair Ramírez, who uses a likeness to Krillin from Dragon Ball, and Mirtha Vásquez, who has been linked to the use of characters from Star Wars. Additionally, Rubén Mayta and Lía Valderrama have been pointed out for employing images of iconic characters to attract voters.
Indecopi has urged the National Office of Electoral Processes (ONPE) to communicate the importance of respecting copyright in the electoral campaign.
