The vibrant
city of Lusaka hosted the 3rd ARIPO Regional Seminar on Copyright
& Related Rights in the Audiovisual Sector, a significant event aimed
at enhancing understanding and implementing copyright laws within the
audiovisual industry across Africa. The seminar took place from September 9 to
10, 2024. It was organized by the African Regional Intellectual Property
Organization (ARIPO) in collaboration with Zambia’s Patents and Companies
Registration Agency (PACRA), Fundacion AISGE, the World Intellectual Property
Organization (WIPO), and the Global Audiovisual Alliance.
The seminar
was inaugurated by Zambia’s Minister of Commerce, Trade & Industry,
Honourable Chipoka Mulenga. In his opening remarks, he emphasized the
importance of building upon the foundations laid by previous seminars. He urged
participants to engage actively in discussions that would lead to actionable
outcomes for protecting and promoting copyright within the audiovisual sector.
Honourable Mulenga highlighted that preserving African cultures and traditions
is intrinsically linked to robust copyright frameworks and initiatives like
this seminar.
The ARIPO Director
General’s remarks were delivered on his behalf of by Mr. David Njuguna,
Director of Intellectual Property at ARIPO. He reminded attendees of Africa’s
vast creative economy, which remains largely untapped. The Director General’s
address focused on how intellectual property rights can serve as a catalyst for
economic growth and cultural preservation across the continent. He encouraged
participants to leverage their collective expertise to foster an environment
where creativity can flourish while ensuring that creators are adequately
protected.
Throughout
the two-day event, various sessions were dedicated to educating participants
about copyright laws, best practices in enforcement, and strategies for
collaboration among stakeholders in the audiovisual sector. Experts from
different countries shared insights into their experiences with copyright
challenges and successes. The discussions also covered emerging trends in
digital media and how they impact copyright issues.
Participants
included representatives from government agencies, legal experts, content
creators, producers, and other stakeholders involved in the audiovisual
industry. The attendees' diverse backgrounds fostered rich dialogue about
regional challenges and opportunities related to copyright protection.
As the
seminar concluded, participants felt a palpable sense of optimism regarding future collaborations to strengthen copyright protections
within Africa’s audiovisual sector. The event served as a platform for knowledge exchange and a call to action for all stakeholders to work
together towards creating a more sustainable creative economy that respects
intellectual property rights.
This
seminar marks another step forward in ensuring that Africa’s rich cultural
heritage is preserved through effective copyright legislation while empowering
creators across the continent.