Monrovia – The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has issued a strong warning to businesses across Liberia for the unauthorized commercial use of copyrighted creative works, including music, movies, and art.
In a statement released over the weekend, the ministry cited widespread violations of the country’s Intellectual Property Act of 2016.
According to the statement, signed by Deputy Minister for Administration Scholastica Tanneh Nyenkan-Nimely, hotels, motels, bars, restaurants, casinos, gaming centers, and sellers of music and movies are among entities using creative content without obtaining the legally required licenses.
“This is a tacit violation of the General Business Laws, the Intellectual Property Law, and further undermines Liberia’s commitment to international trade obligations regarding intellectual property rights,” the ministry said.
Referencing Sections 9.6, 9.35, and 9.36 of the 2016 Intellectual Property Act, along with related copyright regulations, the ministry emphasized that all commercial users of creative content must secure copyright clearances and licenses before exploiting such materials.
To ensure compliance, the ministry announced that it will begin surveillance and inspection operations in collaboration with the Liberia Intellectual Property Office (LIPO) and the Copyright Society of Liberia (COSOL).
“This announcement must claim the attention of creative content users, including but not limited to Mobile Network Operators (MNOs),” the release added.
