The idea to adopt regional representatives for Copyright Office of The Gambia, is greeted with excitement, appreciation and commendation for what many described long over-due, which ought to have been since cognizant of current affairs tenable on matters of intellectual property (IP) Laws, especially Copyright and Related Rights Laws.
The reception, reaction and response from most regional authorities affirmed the level of their appreciation and understanding about the important role play by intellectual property laws as Copyright Law towards achieving the desired sustainable development objectives of any given country, including The Gambia, through promotion and promotion of creative, artistic and cultural industries mainly described as engine of growth for countries across the globe, both developed and developing countries.
Such high level appreciation,understanding,inspirational commendation and guide were not limited to Ebrima KS Dampha, Governor for North Bank Region of The Gambia, who gave assurances of an open, smooth working relationship and cooperation of his office with Copyright Office of The Gambia at all times.
The adoption and signing of memorandum of understanding between regional representatives and Copyright Office, begun in Banjul to Kanifing Municipal Council, West Coast Region, North Bank, Lower River Region, Central River Region and Upper River Region.
The exercise is premised, among others, to have the representatives as focal point of contact for their regions on all activities to be embark on by the Copyright Office and they shall be responsible for organisation/mobilisation of participants for awareness campaign, registration of all folklore and cultural expressions within their jurisdictions, training/ capacity building programmes, competition/ contest, award related activities in their respective regions and any other assignment deemed fit and necessary for smooth and proper operations of the Copyright Office.
The rationale behind the MOU are not limited to the following; aware of the importance of intellectual property (IP) law, especially Copyright and Related Rights dealing with legal rights of cultural players, artistic and creative industries towards sustainable development of any given nation across the globe, including developing countries like The Gambia.
Aware of objectives of intellectual property law, especially Copyright Related Rights are not limited to protection and promotion of economic development through industrialization, but also provides strong incentive for investment in research and development resulting in innovation, industrial growth and economic progress of the nation, thus the benefits of IP system or regime could be fully utilized only by countries equipped with trained scientific and technical persons along with adequate basic industrial infrastructure.
SOURCE: Mr. Sanna Jawara, Copyright Officer at NCAC
