Liberia pledges to protect intellectual property

Cooper was speaking at a recent event celebrating World Intellectual Property Day in capital city Monrovia.

The event had over 300 members of the creative industry in attendance and had Cooper reassure the gathering that LIPO had come up with a plan to fight intellectual property theft.

LIPO is a semi-autonomous governmental agency whose mandate is to protect and promote the works of inventors and innovators through the industrial property laws of Liberia in collaboration with global conventions, protocols and treaties related to intellectual property rights protection to which Liberia is a signatory.

As part of its duties, LIPO ensures that creators benefit from their work and that the government benefits from a tax deduction on royalties. The establishment also encourages fair competition in the sale of copyright products and services.

“I’m assuring you of the agency’s commitment to eradicate or minimise piracy in Liberia to the lowest level possible,” Cooper said. “We feel your pain; therefore, we have resolved to do everything possible to create an environment where creativity can thrive by becoming profitable. I promised you, no matter the situation, we will do everything possible to make sure that we prosecute those individuals who are in the habit of piracy.”

Cooper added that the office was aware that in order for innovation and creativity to thrive in Liberia, the agency would need to continue with its intellectual property awareness campaign to launch a legal aid for creators to sue pirates, as most Liberian artists and inventors did not have intellectual property lawyers to fight their cases if their works were pirated.

“The essence of continuing this awareness is to strengthen the country intellectual property regime by having all citizens educated about intellectual property, piracy and its negative impact on the country,” she said.

“We cannot stop counterfeiting and piracy if people are not aware of the risk of purchasing pirated work. Meanwhile, the legal aid services we are about to provide is intended to protect and encourage protection of new creation and economic growth.”