Intellectual Property rights must be protected to enhance creativity

As Rwanda, today, joins the rest of the world to mark the Intellectual Property (IP) Day, both legal experts and artistes have called for the enforcement of the current IP law, and the fixing of all the existing regulatory loopholes that undermine intellectual property.

It is clear that the country has made tremendous progress in recent years to protect copyrights, with the national police netting several lawbreakers in this regard.

Nonetheless, a lot more needs to be done, if creations are to play a major role in ‘Designing the Future’ as this year’s global theme suggests.

For instance, sufficient mechanisms should be developed to help determine brand value, and to sufficiently monitor and punish any infringements on IP rights.
 
One of the most effective deterrents is public sensitization regarding Intellectual Property rights since many people inadvertently infringe on them, unaware of what the legal implications are. Similarly, creators of brands and other artistic productions should obtain copyrights for their works to formalize and help promote the sector.

With the Government keen on promoting creativity and entrepreneurship as some of the pillars of the  economy, respect for Intellectual Property rights will not only reward innovation, but will also inspire more citizens to use their minds to create jobs and, ultimately, more wealth.

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