The
idea to adopt regional representatives for Copyright Office of The Gambia has
been greeted with excitement, appreciation and commendation for what many
described as long over-due. Cognizant of current affairs tenable on matters of
intellectual property (IP) Laws, especially Copyright and Related Rights Laws,
the office ought to have been established a long time ago.
The
reception, reaction and response from most regional authorities affirmed the
level of their appreciation and understanding about the important role played
by intellectual property laws as Copyright Law. This is geared towards
achieving the desired sustainable development objectives of any given country,
including The Gambia, through 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 K.S. 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, began in Banjul to Kanifing Municipal
Council, West Coast, North Bank, Lower River, Central River and Upper River
regions.
The
exercise is premised among others to have the representatives as focal point of
contact for their regions in all activities to be embarked on by the Copyright
Office. Their activities inter alia shall be responsibility 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 is not limited to the following; awareness of the
importance of intellectual property (IP) law, especially Copyright and Related
Rights dealing with legal rights of cultural players, artistic and creative
industries. This is aimed towards sustainable development of any given nation
across the globe, including developing countries like The Gambia.
Awareness
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 personnel equipped with adequate basic industrial infrastructure.
