Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce

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Executive Director of the Jamaica Intellectual Property Office (JIPO), Carol Simpson highlights activities planned for Intellectual Property Week, which will be staged from April 20 to April 26. Also endorsing the activities is Manager of the Copyright and Related Rights Directorate, Philippa Davies (right).

The Jamaica Intellectual Property Office (JIPO) will observe Intellectual Property (IP) Week from April 20 to 26, under the theme: 'Creativity: Protect. Collect. Respect.'

Speaking at Thursday's(April 9) JIS Think Tank session, Manager of the Copyright and Related Rights Directorate at JIPO, Philippa Davies, explained that the observance of the week presents an opportunity to highlight the value of creative endeavours and the importance of their protection to national development.

"IP Week is to put special focus in our public education activities to raise awareness of intellectual property, as it is integral to everything we do each day. We want persons to be more aware that it is not a concept that is abstract, but it is real.from you wake up in the morning until you go to bed at night, you are either using or creating intellectual property," Miss Davies pointed out.

Highlighting the theme, the Copyright Manager noted that it points to key components of the use of intellectual property-protect, collect and respect.

"You protect your creativity, so that you can collect or earn economically from it. But, others must also respect your creativity," she said.

A major highlight of the week's activities is a one-day Creativity Expo at Emancipation Park, on April 24. The expo, which will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., will showcase examples of Jamaican creativity in the fields of copyright and related rights.

" We will be having booths manned by individuals and companies involved in the different types of intellectual properties, including persons from the copyright world, whether artistic, literary or music; from the trademarks and business community; persons from the patents world; inventors and innovators; design world; as well as representatives from the geographical indications community," Miss Davies outlined.

During the expo, there will be mini workshops and seminars, focusing on the issue of protecting and exploiting IP rights.

The day's proceedings will close with a concert featuring drummers, poets, singers who are members of the copyright society, as well as an 'innovative fashion show'.

On April 23, there will be the launch of a publication, entitled 'Jamaica Intellectual Property', at the Jamaica Trade and Invest (JTI), commencing at 5:30 p.m. It is authored by Dian Daley, one of Jamaica's leading Intellectual Property lawyers, from the law firm Foga Daley, and is a compilation of all the laws on intellectual property in Jamaica.

Other activities will include a panel discussion on copyright issues, at the Neville Hall Lecture Theatre, UWI, Mona on April 24 and a thanksgiving service at the Kencot Seventh Day Adventist Church on April 25.

The week's observance will culminate on April 26, with the staging of a seminar put on by Global News Products, at the Hilton Kingston Hotel, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Dubbed: 'Maximising your Profits through Intellectual Property Protection', the seminar will look at protecting and deriving economic benefits from intellectual property creations.

Intellectual Property Week incorporates the celebration of World Book and Copyright Day, April 23 and World Intellectual Property Day, April 26. JIPO has been observing the week since 1998.

For further information on JIPO and the week of activities contact the office at 960-1852 or visit the website at www.jipo.gov.jm.

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