VI THE GLEANER | SUNDAY, MAY 4, 2025 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY WEEK 2025 FEATURE | of Homeland Security attaché (Jamaica & Cayman Islands) • Mikhail Jackson, partner, Livingston, Alexander & Levy • Shantal English Richards, deputy director/legal counsel, Jamaica Intellectual Property Office, JIPO • Vivian Rose, manager, copyright & related rights, JIPO • Alecia Vidal, manager, trademarks, designs & geographical indications, JIPO • Jason Wongsam, assistant manager, patents, JIPO • Lilyclaire Bellamy, executive director, JIPO Their combined expertise offered a comprehensive view of intellectual property protection and enforcement, including border controls, litigation, and business compliance. On Wednesday, April 23, JIPO joined with The University of the West Indies, where law librarian, Myrna Douglas, and The UWI Mona Technology Innovation Support Centre (TISC) help desk coordinator hosted a celebration of book donors to mark World Book & Copyright Day at the Faculty of Law. The ceremony included a presentation from the deputy director/legal counsel of JIPO, Shantal English Richards, on ‘Books: Copyright What is the link? The Executive Director of JIPO Lilyclaire Bellamy gave an overview of the development of the TISC at UWI and the plans surrounding the implementation of other TISCs. Donations were then given by representatives of the estates of Dr. Adolph Edwards and Danielle Asphall, Mrs. Paula Blake-Asphall, mother of Danielle, spoke of the challenges faced by the family in obtaining books for Danielle when she was a student and the support provided by family and friends and the love demonstrated by Danielle when she was alive and her willingness to share her text books with others even when she was preparing for the same exam. Arlene Edwards, widow of Dr. Adolph Edwards spoke on behalf of her late husband who donated his entire book collection to the UWI Faculty of Law library. The week culminated on Friday, April 25, with Beats & Brands Live the Mini - Business Expo and Concert in Emancipation Park. The mornings proceedings took place under the expert guidance of Fae Ellington with musical selections being offered by ZJ Venus a fitting prelude for the concert that was to follow later in the evening. The programme flowed with military precision, but reflected a warm gathering of friends and colleagues. Chief Executive Officer of the Companies Office of Jamaica Shellie Leon stressed the importance of registering your business name and company and also using the registration system at JIPO. She also highlighted the Security Interest in Personal Property Registry operated by the Companies Office; Lydia Rose, general manager of the Jamaica Association of Composers Authors and Publishers (JACAP), a collective management organisation (CMO), spoke of the collaboration between JACAP, JIPO and the other CMOs to protect creatives. Daren Tang, director general of the World Intellectual Property Organization, gave a rendition on piano of a Duke Ellington classic, while sharing on the relevance of music and intellectual property. The proceedings then shifted to Senator Aubyn Hill, minister of industry, investment and commerce, the minister with responsibility for the Jamaica Intellectual Property Office who gave an engaging speech, listened to attentively by the audience which included the ministry’s permanent secretary Mrs. Sancia Bennett Templer, and the permanent secretary for the Office of the Prime Minister Ambassador Rocky Meade, and Dr. Wayne Robertson, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Legal and Constitutional Affairs, and Shericka Ashley, who represented the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security. Minister Hill declared the event open, and the patrons then took the time to visit the booths and obtain valuable information from JIPO, other agencies, entrepreneurs from the creative industries with the entire event being broadcast by several media houses. The expo ended at 5 p.m., but the best was to come at 6 p.m. Honey Bee of Nationwide News Network took to the stage with high energy to guide us through the beats and brands and she certainly delivered. We were saturated with information throughout the day with the opening and the mini business expo and it was time for an explosion of JIPO staff members and their families with the Rev Al Miller, Pastor of the Fellowship Tabernacle Church, at the Thanksgiving Church service.
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