The Liberia Intellectual Property Office (LIPO) has raised awareness about intellectual property rights among Liberian filmmakers at the recently concluded Journey Home Film Festival, which took place from June 20—22.
The latest initiative is part of a series of efforts spearheaded by Garmai Koboi, Director General of LIPO, to educate various stakeholders in the creative industries about intellectual property and its economic benefits.
Since taking over five months ago, Koboi has placed a strong emphasis on awareness creation after it became evident that many stakeholders in the creative industries have limited knowledge about intellectual property and management. This knowledge gap has led to low uptake in copyright registration, despite the wide array of copyrightable content being created daily—something which Koboi has vowed to change.
At the Journey Home Film Festival, Clarence H. Cole, Deputy Director General for Copyright at LIPO, joined festival chief organizer, Dr. Clarice Ford-Kulah, along with renowned African movie industry figures such as Desmond Elliott and Richard Mofe-Damijo, to provide valuable insights and empower attendees on the issue of intellectual property rights and copyright.
In his remarks, Cole demystified the concept of intellectual property and elaborated on the role that LIPO plays in the process. Addressing an audience of producers, directors, actors, and actresses, he emphasized the importance of intellectual property and leveraging it for economic gains.
“Intellectual property is not just a legal formality; it is a crucial asset for creators,” said Cole in his remarks on June 21, 2024 EJS Ministerial Complex. “By protecting your intellectual property you can ensure a steady income stream from your creative works for years to come. It is essential to recognize the value of your creations and take the necessary steps to safeguard them.”
He added that it is about time Liberian creators recognize the immense value of intellectual property, which is by far the most important medium through which creators can secure the opportunity to earn revenue from their creativity for years to come.
“Intellectual property rights ensure that you, the creators, benefit economically from your hard work and creativity. It’s not just about legal protection; it’s about economic empowerment and sustaining the creative industries.”
At the end of Cole’s remarks, the attendees expressed appreciation to him for his presentation and the clarity he provided on the topic, as well as on the registration process at LIPO, which is virtually cost-free.
The collaboration with Journey Home Film Festival follows a similar collaboration with ASAP Africa, Inc., the organizer of the inaugural Mano River Music Conference, which took place in Monrovia from May 17—18, 2024 at the EJS Ministerial Complex. These collaborations reflect Koboi’s ongoing commitment to raising awareness about intellectual property across various sectors of Liberia’s creative industries.
The Mano River Music Conference represents a groundbreaking event in Liberia’s music industry as it brought together esteemed international music industry experts to engage with and empower local talent and open discussions on how artists can grow their careers in music.
Journey Home Film Festival is a significant cultural event that celebrates the vibrancy and burgeoning film industry in Liberia, which is teeming with talent and potential. The festival serves as a platform for filmmakers to showcase their work, network, and learn from industry veterans, thus playing a crucial role in the industry’s development.
In a related development, Koboi, the Director General of LIPO, has returned from Ghana after participating in the Africa Regional Intellectual Property Organizations Regional Workshop on Plant Variety Protection.
The workshop, hosted by the Government of Ghana and ARIPO, in partnership with the Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) and the United States Patent and Trademark Office, focused on “Plant Variety Protection for Sustainable Agricultural Development and Food Security in the Context of Climate Change”.