Cultural rights in focus

SAMOA – Two government ministries in Samoa are partnering with Pacific regional organisations to enhance the knowledge of intellectual property rights among cultural producers in a workshop being held in Apia this week.

The workshop is focused on the creative sources behind the invention of new songs, performances, fashion designs, crafted products and arts in Samoa and throughout the Pacific.

Piracy, unauthorised use of designs and other intellectual property infringements are significant threats to both the livelihood of individual artists and to the creative industries sector as a whole.

Creators and producers from the performing arts, craft, fashion and visual arts sectors are taking part in the intellectual property rights and protection training programme, held as part of the European Union-ACP funded ‘Enhancing the Pacific Cultural Industries: Fiji, Samoa and Solomon Islands’ Project.

The workshop is being co-hosted by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labour, the Ministry of Education Sports and Culture, the Pacific Community (SPC), the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) and the Samoa Arts Council.

“The training’s aim is to enhance the understanding of intellectual property rights and laws in Samoa so that creative and cultural producers can better protect themselves against infringement,” the deputy-director of SPC’s Social Development Division, Leituala Kuiniselani Tago-Elisara said.

“The training will address specific issues within intellectual property rights, including providing guidance to creative and cultural producers on the processes of copyrights and trademarks.”

Guest speakers include representatives of relevant government agencies alongside SPC’s intellectual property consultant, Pita K Niubalavu.

Speakers have also been invited from the business community who have established themselves in the cultural industries.

The regional project recognises the contribution of cultural industries to Pacific economies and works to strengthen their position in the economy.

In January, the project supported Samoa’s Plantation House to showcase its homewares at NY NOW, an international trade show in New York.

The project overall project has been made possible with financial support of the European Union and the assistance of the ACP (Africa Caribbean Pacific) Group of States.

- Samoa Observer