Friday, March 29, 2024
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Intellectual Property policies further strengthened

Sri Lanka’s intellectual property protection initiatives are set be further strengthened for the benefits of local inventors, artistes, and authors for their creative efforts; as well as to encourage research and innovation and start new businesses.

Director General of National Intellectual Property Office (NIPO) Geethanjali R. Ranawaka said that Intellectual property (IP) protection and enforcement when done right are one of the fundamental conditions for innovation and competition.

High quality technology information and services will be providing to innovators and entrepreneurs with the assistance of World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

This programme is aimed at supporting innovators to reach their fullest potential, and to enable them to create, manage and protect their intellectual property (IP) rights.

Twelve Technology and Innovation Support Centers (TISC) will be set up under this programme by National Intellectual Property Office (NIPO) in collaboration with World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO),Ms Ranwake said.

(NIPO project will be implanted countrywide universities and Science, Research Institutes in order to provide patent related information to the patent applicants through data bases at these centers.

Around 10 more TISCs will be established in more universities, “Vidatha” centeres and nongovernment technological institutes in 2019 and 2020.

Vidatha Resource Centres" located around the country and aims to provide rural Sri Lanka with access to technology such as e mail, internet, and fax and distance learning.

These centers also provide facilities such as bank loans, market information, techniques and information on enterprise development as an encouraging facet in developing rural entrepreneurship and enterprise, she revealed.

Sri Lanka has been enhancing national capacities in several areas of intellectual property in recent years with continued cooperation and active engagement of WIPO.

The NIPO will create an enabling Intellectual Property (IP) environment (EIE) with the support of WIPO in close collaboration with Science, Technology Institutes and Universities with the aim of enhancing IP awareness in the said institutes and to provide capacity building for the relevant staff.

Commercial Law Development Program (CLDP) of U.S. Department of Commerce and NIPO collaborated project has launched An initiative to support Universities and Science, Technology Institutes to provide technical assistance to assist technology transfer activities enabling commercialising of inventions.

Measures are being taken to strengthen Collective Management Organizations (CMO) and policy formulation to implement an effective mechanism to protect copyright and related rights and activate payments of royalty to copyright holders and performers.

The approved draft of “Royalty Collection” Regulations was sent to Government printer to be published in the Government Gazette shortly Ms Ranawake said.

The draft of Geographical Indications (GI) Registration Regulations was submitted Department of Legal Draftsman for approval, she revealed.

.NIPO has entered into WIPO administered Treaties/ Protocols/ Agreements and accession to Marrakesh Treaty, to facilitate access to published works for persons who are blind, visually impaired or otherwise.

An agreement has been finalised in 2016 and legislations were presented in parliament for approval towards this end,, she added

(LI)