…As it Encourages IP Storytelling…
Contributed By: Akoi M. Baysah, Jr. – IP Influencer, Africa
MASERU: The African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO), has awarded three member states Journalists who emerged winners in a competition of IP storytelling.
ARIPO encouraged IP Communicators and Journalists to continue supporting the creation and promotion of Intellectual Properties in Africa through their storytelling.
On the sideline of the 48th session of the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) Administrative Council in Lesotho, Maseru, Gosego Motsumi from Botswana, Bamuturaki Musinguzi from Uganda, and Sinda Matiko of Kenya were named first, second, and third place winners of the ARIPO IP journalists 2024 competition winning the price of USD $6,000.
The IP Awards competition was launched in August 2024, by the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) in collaboration with the Intellectual Property Rights and Innovation in Africa (AfrIPI) project to encourage IP Communicators and journalists to report Intellectual property in Africa through storytelling, creating awareness and promoting innovation and economic growth across the continent.
The 48th session of the ARIPO Administrative Council was held from October 28 to November 1, 2024, in the Kingdom of Lesotho. After vetting articles from the 22 member states, three journalists were awarded.
Botswana Women are Making Strides in the Intellectual Property Sphere and Botswana IP Status: Immense Growth But Weak in Commercialization.
What Konshen’s Copyright Infringement victory means and Standoff over royalties paralyze Uganda Arts and articles titled Content Creation Says:
Minting Cash on Intellectual Property Rights Tightrope and Minting Cash from Copyright and Patent Violations were the award-winning articles.
According to ARIPO’s Director General, Bemanya Twebaze, “This competition underscores the growing impact of IP awareness and the transformative role of journalism,” emphasizing the significance of journalism in making IP accessible and cultivating an environment that can help flourish innovation.
Twebaze cautioned Journalists from across member states to promote IP innovation articles in their respective countries to create likeness for the sector that is very important and comes with huge benefits towards national growth.
In regards to this, ARIPO with Support from AFRIPI has continued to train IP Communicators and journalists in member states.
Deputy Project Director, Carlos Lleo Satorre mentioned that the award is a yonder recognition and celebrates the crucial role of journalism in the IP ecosystem adding that.
“Through your storytelling, you shape public perception, influence policy, and spark innovation”.