Peru’s electoral authorities are warning candidates against using copyrighted characters and content in their campaigns ahead of the upcoming general elections. The National Institute for the Defense of Competition and the Protection of Intellectual Property (Indecopi) issued a statement on March 21, 2026, urging political parties and candidates to respect copyright laws during the election period. This comes amid reports of unauthorized use of popular figures in campaign materials.
Indecopi clarified that the use of musical works, images, videos, texts, characters and other creative content requires prior authorization from the copyright holders or collective management societies that represent them, as outlined in the Peruvian Constitution and Decree Law 822 – the Law on Copyright. The agency warned that unauthorized use infringes on the rights of creators, artists, and producers and could lead to administrative and criminal penalties.
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The Directorate of Copyright at Indecopi emphasized that using protected works without permission not only violates the rights of creators but also impacts respect for creativity and artistic work. The agency added that proper royalties must be paid for the use of works, such as musical pieces.
Indecopi stated that parties and candidates can obtain the necessary authorizations through collective management societies representing authors, performers, producers, and visual artists. The agency has also sent a communication to the National Office of Electoral Processes (ONPE) requesting that it emphasize the importance of respecting copyright to all political parties and candidates. This move underscores the seriousness with which Peruvian authorities are treating intellectual property rights during the election cycle.
This isn’t the first time Indecopi has taken action. In 2021, the agency’s Copyright Commission fined a political group 6,43 UIT (approximately $28,200 USD) and ordered them to pay $7,500 in royalties for using a musical work without authorization in a promotional video.
Candidates Under Scrutiny
Several candidates are already facing scrutiny for allegedly using copyrighted characters in their campaigns, as evidenced by images and videos circulating on social media.
Jair Ramírez, a candidate for the Chamber of Deputies with Alianza para el Progreso (APP), is reportedly leveraging his resemblance to Krillin from the popular anime series Dragon Ball in his campaign materials. Similarly, Mirtha Vásquez, running for the Senate with Ahora Nación, has been linked to campaign videos featuring characters from Star Wars, including Baby Yoda and Chewbacca.
Rubén Mayta (Ahora Nación) and Lía Valderrama (Venceremos) are also accused of using the images and names of characters from Dragon Ball (Android 17) and El Chavo del Ocho (La Chilindrina), respectively, in an attempt to garner votes.
Even presidential candidate Rafael López Aliaga, of Renovación Popular, is reportedly using the name of Porky Pig from Looney Tunes to project an image of harmlessness. The case highlights the challenges of enforcing copyright law during a heated political season.
