Copyright Director General Advances Liberia’s Case Internationally

Geneva, Switzerland: In a highly productive meeting with Mr. Benoit Muller, the Director of Copyright at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), significant strides were made towards enhancing copyright management in Liberia.

The meeting, which took place in Geneva, addressed critical issues such as capacity building for staff of the Copyright Society of Liberia (COSOL) in copyright licensing, royalty collection and distribution, and the administration and management of Collective Management Organizations (CMOs) for board members. Additionally, judicial training for the enforcement of copyright laws was also discussed.

A major highlight of the discussions was the potential access and use of the WIPO CONNECT platform. This platform is expected to offer new opportunities for right holders under COSOL’s membership through international associations such as the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers (CISAC), the International Federation of Reproduction Rights Organisations (IFRRO), the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), the Societies’ Council for the Collective Management of Performers’ Rights (SCAPR), and the Association for the International Collective Management of Audiovisual Works (AGICOA).

During the meeting with Mr. Clarence H Cole Head of Copyright in Liberia , Mr. Muller committed to linking COSOL with the WIPO Creator’s Platform, an initiative designed to raise awareness and improve understanding of creators’ rights and management practices. This platform aims to ensure that creators receive fair recognition and compensation, regardless of their geographical, cultural, or economic backgrounds.

Furthermore, a request was made for a meeting with WIPO’s legal department to discuss training opportunities for members of Liberia’s judiciary, including lawyers, judges, and law enforcement agencies. This initiative aims to secure assistance from WIPO for the review of Liberia’s copyright law and the administrative regulations governing CMOs.

Mr. Cole then affirm Liberia’s commitment to effective protection of copyright contents inorder to benefit the right owners.

“As the head of Copyright at the Liberia Intellectual Property Office (LIPO), we remain dedicated to ensuring the efficient and effective protection of copyrightable content, thereby ensuring that right holders benefit fully from their creative endeavors”