Upholding Intellectual Property Rights was the focus of a two-hour workshop at the University of the South Pacific.
Conducted by USPs’ copyrights section, the IP officer, Ms Cathy Moore said the workshop was an initiative by USP to update 30 students and staff of the university on the importance of Intellectual Property Rights.
“It is important that everyone understands Intellectual Property Rights because it covers strategic issues like industrial property, patents (exclusive rights given by Government), trade marks, geographical indications, industrial designs, trade secrets, integrated circuits, copyright works and traditional knowledge,” Ms Moore said.
“Some IP Rights require registration while others do not. Those which require registration includes patents, trade marks and copyrights.”
An example of IPR in Fiji is the Fiji Performing Rights Association which covers the rights of music and song composers in Fiji.
FPRA officer Ms Maca Maiwaqa said there were more than 300 composers registered with them and they were protected by the Copyrights Acts 1999.
Ms Moore said intellectual property laws and systems protected IPR and was a tool for nation building.
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