Monrovia, Liberia – The Government of Liberia has reaffirmed its strong commitment to strengthening the country’s intellectual property (IP) system as a key driver of economic growth and national development.
Speaking at Liberia’s first-ever Intellectual Property Conference held on April 23, 2025, Deputy Minister for Administration at the Ministry of State Atty. Cornelia Kruah announced a series of bold initiatives aimed at empowering creators and modernizing the IP framework under the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development.
Atty. Kruah emphasized that President Joseph Boakai remains committed to advancing policies that recognize and protect creative works while maximizing their potential impact on GDP growth, job creation, and poverty reduction.
“As part of the President’s vision, we are initiating a comprehensive study on how intellectual property contributes to national development,” she said. “Our goal is to position IP not as a niche concern, but as a fundamental pillar in our economic architecture.”
Echoing the Deputy Minister’s remarks, Garmai Koboi, Director General of the Liberia Intellectual Property Office (LIPO), hailed the conference as a turning point in the country’s development journey. “This gathering is more than symbolic—it marks the integration of IP into Liberia’s national development strategy for the very first time,” she said.
Among the new measures announced is a three-month Copyright Free Registration Program, which eliminates the standard US$10 fee to encourage widespread registration of creative works. This initiative, which targets artists, musicians, writers, designers, and other creators, aims to remove financial barriers to legal protection and promote formal participation in the creative economy.
“We are making it easier and more affordable for our creative minds to protect their works,” DG Koboi noted. “This initiative is part of our broader commitment to building a transparent and accessible IP framework that empowers Liberians to thrive through innovation.”
To further modernize the process, Koboi unveiled the upcoming Digital IP Registration Platform, a system designed to allow creators to register their works remotely—from anywhere in Liberia or around the world. This digital shift is expected to increase access, streamline documentation, and reduce bureaucratic delays in the IP registration process.
She also called on Liberians to support and participate in these initiatives, stressing the importance of collective responsibility. “We will not only meet the ambitions of the ARREST Agenda—we will write a new chapter in the Liberian story, where innovation is applauded, creativity is rewarded, and prosperity is shared,” she declared.
Koboi also introduced the Creators’ Legal Aid Help Desk, a new support structure within LIPO aimed at providing legal assistance to creators. The Help Desk will offer services such as contract review, rights enforcement, and dispute resolution.
“Too often, our creators face legal battles unarmed and uninformed,” she explained. “This Help Desk will ensure they are supported and protected in claiming what is rightfully theirs.”
Looking ahead, she announced plans for a national IP impact study in 2026, which will quantify the economic value of creative industries in Liberia. “This research will provide the evidence needed to design bold, forward-thinking policies that recognize the real value of creative work,” Koboi said.
Both Kruah and Koboi concluded the conference with a joint call to action, urging all sectors—government, private, and civil society—to partner in building a stronger intellectual property ecosystem. The conference marked a pivotal step in Liberia’s journey toward recognizing creativity and innovation as engines of sustainable national development.
