Copyright laws need lot of work

PAPUA New Guinea has a lot of work to do in developing copyright laws, says Investment Promotion Authority (IPA) managing director Clarence Hoot.
Hoot made the remark during the 2019 National Copyright and Related Right seminar yesterday at The Stanley Hotel and Suites in Port Moresby.
He said work on copyright laws was needed because there were rapid developments in the area of copyright coupled with the growing interest in the creative arts industry domestically.
“There has been a growing interest in the creative sector with music, art and craft, visual arts, fashion designing, photography and software development,” he said.
“This is happening domestically but globally the copyright legal landscape is happening at a rapid rate given technological developments in the digital space.
“This makes the protection and enforcement of copyright more challenging than ever and PNG has a lot of work to do in developing appropriate framework.”
Hoot said the Intellectual Property Office of Papua New Guinea under the Investment Promotion Authority (IPA) was working on reforms and strategies on copyright laws.
“The intellectual Property Office is already taking steps to address policy and legal concerns and is keen on progressing the development of copyrights in the country.”
He also acknowledged the World Intellectual Property Office (WIPO) for assisting IPOPNG with technical advice.
“WIPO has been instrumental in development international national copyright treaties that provides for an international playing field and protection for right holders. PNG is keen on joining some of these treaties in the near future.”