Liberia National Police shifts focus to the enforcement of IP rights

The sad reality is that in many African countries, access to cheap goods is often prioritised over products’ origin and, as a result, counterfeit goods have gained an enormous foothold in the continent. Unfortunately, the failure of local governments to address this, has the devastating effect of undermining IP laws and ultimately making countries less attractive for foreign investment and curbing local innovation.

It is against this background that the Liberia National Police has partnered with the Liberian Intellectual Property Office (LIPO) to enable the country’s law enforcement officials to effectively combat IP-related crimes, including the importation and distribution of counterfeit goods. The partnership will introduce an intellectual property course that will form part of the Police Academy’s curriculum, which will equip police officers with the necessary knowledge and skills to enforce IP legislation. Hon. Gamai Koboi, Director General of LIPO stated that “By equipping our law enforcement officers with the tools to understand and enforce intellectual property laws, we are taking a significant step towards protecting our creators, innovators and businesses”. He added that “The establishment of a specialised IP unit within the Liberia National Police will not only curb IP crimes but also foster an environment where innovation and creativity can flourish without fear of infringement”.

The partnership also aligns with Liberian President Joseph Boakai’s commitment to address IP related crimes and stimulate innovation and creativity that would lead to technological and economic development.