MONROVIA – The Liberia Intellectual Property Office (LIPO), in collaboration with the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO), has concluded a three-day Intellectual Property Assets Management Workshop for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Liberia.
The workshop, held from September 3 to 5, 2024, brought together over 200 participants from various business backgrounds, including representatives from universities and government entities dealing with intellectual property rights.
It was designed to educate Liberians on effectively managing their intellectual property assets, a vital tool for boosting the competitive edge of businesses. Topics covered during the workshop ranged from trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets to IP commercialization strategies, technology transfer, and the role of IP in research and development.
In her closing remarks, the Director General of LIPO, Garmai Koboi, thanked the participants for their commitment and noted that the workshop is part of broader efforts by the Government of Liberia to equip businesses and institutions with the necessary knowledge to protect their intellectual property rights.
“This workshop marks a significant step in promoting a deeper understanding of intellectual property rights in Liberia,” Hon. Koboi said in a press release. “We are optimistic that, with this knowledge, our SMEs will better protect their innovations, foster partnerships, and leverage IP for sustainable business growth.”
ARIPO’s facilitator, Dr. Byson C. Sabola, while offering his closing thoughts, praised the active engagement of the participants, saying they showed great enthusiasm and a keen willingness to learn.
“Their engagement and questions reflect a strong desire to better understand the intricacies of intellectual property, which is critical in building a knowledge-based economy,” he added. “It is clear that this workshop has laid the foundation for stronger IP management across diverse sectors in Liberia.”
Dr. Sabola further noted that ARIPO, in collaboration with LIPO, remains confident that the knowledge the participants gained will contribute to the nation’s broader economic development.
Meanwhile, the participants of the workshop, including representatives from universities and government departments dealing with IP rights, lauded LIPO and ARIPO for the eye-opening initiative, which broadened their understanding of intellectual property. They said the knowledge gained has empowered them to make better decisions about protecting and monetizing their IP rights.
Collectively, the participants noted that the knowledge shared by the facilitators will help them protect their businesses and make better strategic decisions regarding their intellectual property.
“The practical insights provided by the experts have given us the tools to better navigate the IP landscape and avoid costly mistakes,” they said.
The workshop, which concluded with a strong commitment to fostering continued collaboration between LIPO, ARIPO, and the SME community, was facilitated by Dr. Byson C. Sabola, Capacity Building Officer, ARIPO; Cllr. Fanta C. D. Barclay, Intellectual Property Lawyer; John O. Omiti, Patent Examiner, ARIPO; Ms. Jamus P. Bannah, IP Expert and Program Manager at LIPO and Mr. Jethro Johnson.
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