Analysis of potential legal issues in the creation of courseware in Philippine electronic education

Until a few years ago, the concept of virtual learning in the Philippine context was not well received. Educators have been revered as dispensers of knowledge. Replacing them, or at least enhancing their teaching repertoire with electronic aids or tools, had been a source of resistance and discomfort. With the advent of technological innovations caused by the Internet, Philippine educational institutions (PEIs) have had to grapple with the possibility and reality of introducing electronic education as a means of enhancing their course offerings and for attracting more students to enroll in their programs to ensure their financial viability. This paper discusses the modes by which PEIs create the content of their electronic courseware. The author also analyzes the legal ramifications of these activities and raises issues he has pinpointed as potential sources of legal conflict in the Philippines. His standard references are mainly Philippine laws and jurisprudence.