The reforms, according to a press release from the Liberia Intellectual Property Office, are intended to expand support for entrepreneurs, improve services for rights holders and strengthen protections for creators and innovators as Liberia seeks to use intellectual property to drive investment, industrial development and job creation.

Delivering Liberia’s national statement at the opening of the WIPO Assemblies on July 7, Tarnue N. Jeke, Deputy Minister for Administration at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, told delegates that, as part of the Government’s reform efforts, intellectual property had become an important part of the country’s national development agenda.

He said the Government was focusing on strengthening Liberia’s legal and institutional intellectual property framework while expanding access to intellectual property education, business support and innovation services.

Among the measures highlighted was President Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr.’s submission of eight regional and international intellectual property treaties, conventions and protocols to the National Legislature for consideration and ratification. The instruments cover areas including digital copyright, performers’ rights, traditional knowledge, genetic resources, cultural expressions and the protection of new plant varieties.

Their ratification would bring Liberia closer to international standards and provide stronger protections for local creators, researchers, farmers and businesses. “The submission of these instruments forms part of the Government’s efforts to reform and strengthen Liberia’s legal and institutional framework governing intellectual property administration,” Jeke said.

The WIPO Assemblies, being held in Geneva from July 7 to 15, bring together delegates from the organization’s 194 member states. The annual meetings allow countries to review WIPO’s work, make decisions on institutional matters and shape future directions for the global intellectual property system.

 For Liberia, participation provides an opportunity to present its reform priorities, strengthen cooperation with WIPO and other member states, and seek technical support for treaty implementation, institutional modernization, innovation commercialization and intellectual property enforcement.

The meetings also allow the Liberian delegation to engage development partners on support for creators, entrepreneurs, universities, women innovators and public institutions responsible for administering and enforcing intellectual property rights. In his remarks, Jeke also highlighted progress made through Liberia’s cooperation with WIPO, including the ongoing development of the National Intellectual Property Policy and Strategy and improvements in service delivery through the WIPO Industrial Property Administration System.

He noted that, over the past two years, more than 250 micro, small and medium enterprises, innovators and creative artists had received training in intellectual property management and related business development support through partnerships involving the Government, WIPO and the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization. Jeke also added that Liberia had expanded intellectual property education through clubs established in 20 high schools, reaching more than 400 students in three counties. Liberia also recently won the WIPO-ARIPO Regional Intellectual Property School Club Competition in Zimbabwe.

Liberia competed against Ghana, Rwanda, Tanzania, The Gambia and Zambia, with students from Maretha International Preparatory High School presenting a copyright-awareness drama titled The Brushstrokes of Justice. “Chair, under the leadership of President Boakai and with the support of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Liberia remains committed to strengthening its national intellectual property ecosystem and institutions.

Liberia remains committed to working with WIPO and member states to ensure that intellectual property contributes meaningfully to sustainable development and shared prosperity for all,” Jeke added. The Liberian delegation to the WIPO meetings includes Garmai E. Koboi, Director General of the Liberia Intellectual Property Office, and Jamus P. Bannah, Deputy Director General for Industrial Property.