Capitol Hill, Monrovia: More than 100 personnel of the Liberia National Police are expected to enhance their understanding of intellectual property rights across Liberia through a specialized training program organized by the Liberia Intellectual Property Office.
The training, a joint initiative of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the African Intellectual Property Organization (AIPO), and the Liberia National Police, aims to strengthen the capacity of law enforcement to uphold intellectual property laws in Liberia.
The Director General of the Liberia Intellectual Property Office, Garmai Koboi, told journalists at a Ministry of Information press briefing on Thursday, December 12, 2024, that a draft agreement outlining the partnership has been prepared, with plans underway to finalize and sign the document. While the specific dates and venue for the training remain undisclosed. She indicated that the initiative would be conducted in two phases.
The first phase will involve online sessions, allowing police and customs officers to gain fundamental knowledge of intellectual property rights. This will be followed by in-person training to deepen their expertise in its practical application.
D. G. Koboi also mentioned that the police have requested the inclusion of intellectual property rights training in the curriculum at the police academy, emphasizing the importance of equipping officers with the necessary tools to combat intellectual property violations.
“Over the past three months, the Liberia Intellectual Property Office (LIPO) undertook serious efforts to raise awareness about intellectual property with the goal of promoting public understanding of the economic benefits of intellectual property and, in return, to foster respect for intellectual property rights among all Liberians,” she added.
These efforts, according to her, culminated in a three-month intellectual property awareness exercise and a high school intellectual property club competition held in Montserrado, Grand Bassa, and Nimba counties. The awareness exercise combined face-to-face outreach efforts, radio programs, an influencer campaign, and the distribution of intellectual property-enshrined flyers and brochures to ensure that key messages reached a wide and diverse audience.
“We estimate that in these three counties, we interacted directly with approximately 5,000 individuals through our one-on-one discussions. These personal engagements allowed participants to ask questions, share concerns, and learn how safeguarding their creative works can promote long-term economic benefits for themselves and their communities,” the Liberia Intellectual Property Office head stated.
She added that during the exercise, the IP office distributed over 5,000 flyers and brochures at local markets, educational institutions, public offices, and among individuals. “These materials, designed in accessible language and featuring illustrative examples, provided concise guidance on protecting intellectual property rights and how to seek more information or assistance from the Liberia Intellectual Property Office,” the LIPO boss mentioned.
However, she indicated that feedback so far suggests that the public awareness campaign has improved Liberians’ understanding of the basics of intellectual property. “Thus, many Liberians can now express a clearer understanding of why protecting one’s creative works and innovations is vital.”
