By: E. Geedahgar Garsuah, Sr.
MONROVIA: The Copyright Society of Liberia (COSOL), as the Secretariat of the Liberia Intellectual Property Office (LIPO) has completed preparation for the observance of the ninth edition of the World Copyright Day, COSOL’s Executive Director, Prince Emmanuel Decker has disclosed.
Decker said COSOL will join hands with the rest of the world on the global Theme: “Promotes, Reading, Publishing and Copyright” to commemorate on Saturday, April 23, 2022 as World Copyright Day.
The celebration of the World’s 9th Copyright Day is in continuation of COSOL’s massive awareness initiatives toward its licensing process.
As LIPO’s Secretariat, COSOL has the mandate to enter into License Agreement with legal entities and the issuance of License Certificate. This authority is captured in Title 24, Liberia Code of Law Revised referred to as the Liberia Intellectual Property Act of 2016.
The all-day celebration of the World Copyright Day which is expected to kickoff at 10:o’clock Ante Meridian on the morning of Saturday, will be held in the open space on Randall Street situated between Broad and Ashmun Streets adjacent the Executive Pavilion.
As part of pre-celebration initiative of the World Copyright Day, COSOL have held series of sensitization and education activities with major players of Liberia Artistic Industry, the Media and as well Ministries, Agencies and Commissions (MACs) of the Government of Liberia (GoL). Commerce Minister, Mawine Diggs will be the guest of honor.
Foreign and local dignitaries including stakeholders of Liberia’s Creative Industry are expected to grace the occasion marking the activities in celebration of the day. The Political and Economic Counselor at the United States Embassy Joel Kopp is poised to deliver the keynote address.
LIPO’s Director General, Cllr. P. Adelyn Cooper will deliver a special remark in commemoration of the World’s 9th Copyright Day on the National Theme: “Adding Value to Creativity for Wealth Creation in Liberia”.
The Officer-in-Charge of the United Nations Education Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Mr. Mamadou Lamine Sow is expected to grace the occasion marking the observance of the World Copyright Day. Mr. Sow will also relay UNESCO Director General’s global message of the World Copyright Day celebration.
Established in 2009 through regulation LIPO/COSOL/CR/001/2019, COSOL served as the Collective Management Organization (CMO) in Liberia, which is charged with the exclusive duty for the collection and distribution of royalties for all creative arts.
The LIPO Act of 2016 that was passed into law by the 53rd Legislature gives LIPO the exclusive authorization to govern, control, and regulate the generation, protection, commercial exploitation and enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights in Liberia.
