By Samuel G. Dweh, Contributing Writer
The Copyright Society of Liberia is the Government’s arm for protection of a person’s creative (or intellectual) work against unauthorized criminal use by another person, entity or group.
“COSOL and the Creative Sector are two halves of a whole. So, each of the halves should prop up the other for the maintenance of the wholeness of Liberia’s creativity sector, for mutual benefits,” James Y. Draper, COSOL’s Head of Corporate Service, said during an interactive session between his entity and a representative body of Liberia’s creative community at COSOL’s Head Office on UN Drive, in the middle of January, 2024.
As Liberia’s creative community anticipates an economically booming life for each member during the Presidency of Joseph Nyuma Boakai (to be inaugurated on January 22) of the Unity Party, COSOL has decided to publicly express gratitude to business centers that had been in compliance on with COSOL’s instructions on the “authorized use” of creators’ works.
Below are the business centers and what they are involved into.
BLANK TAPE/PRIVATE COPYING: Abber Pharmaceutical Company, Abi Jaoudi & Azar Trading Corporation, African Lin Electrical Enterprise, All Builders, Amin International Liberia, Inc., APC Enterprise, ARUN Brothers, Astec Corporation, Banou Enterprise, Barbar Motor Corporation/ATCO, Beever Communication, Inc., Best Building Materials, Boost Technology Solution, Consolidated Group, The Cool Appliance Company (LLC), Dynamic Resources, Inc., Drize Stationery, Electronic World, Inc., Ezone Electronics, Fayad Enterprise Corp., FIDO’s Technologies, Inc., General Export Enterprise, Genuine Import & Export, Glory Enterprise, Goodluck Hardware Center, H.K. Enterprise, Hadid Electronic, Jarama Business Enterprise, Jeety Food, LLC, Kokopelli Trading Company, Liberia Hardware, Inc., Liberia Home & Office Solution, Lion Stationery Story, Liberty Trading Company, Lonestar Communication, Inc., Mehar Trading, Metro Stationery Store, Nar Digital Prin ting and Sign Corp., Naresh Brothers, National Hardware Center, National Industrial Company, Office & More Stationery, Office Ideas, Orange Liberia, Oussail Store, PNS Traders, Pyramid Import & Export, Razzouk Brothers, RK Enterprise, Ruana (Lib) Inc., Saturday Zoogar Dungan, Shammah Group of Companies, Sky-Tech International Lib. Inc., Somex Enterprise, Universal Mobile United Office Supplies, V. R. Hardware Center, Webo Electronic Business Center, and Yilian Trade.
Businesses on PUBLIC PERFORMANCE RIGHTS are: Ameno Guest House, Acuhe’l Sanctuary, Cape Hotel, City Room Guest House, Club Brazil, Club Montserrado, Coasters Restopub, Executive Club, Flash Point Entertainment, Festa 39 Guest House, Golden Gate Hotel, Mamba Point Hotel, Moonlight Club, MTN Liberia Music Awards, Number One Bar & Restaurant, Plus Liberia Investment, Inc., Queen Night Club, Royal Grand Hotel, Saji House, Shark’s Ice Cream Entertainment, Summer Beach, Tik Tok Restaurant, and Tunit Publishing.
The Businesses involved in Mechanical Rights are: Angel Production Business Center, Avish Enterprise, Big Joe Business Center, Blamah Divine Favour Business Center, Chester Enterprise, Clare Business Center, CNC Enterprise, Co-More Business Center, Connel Business Center, D. Angel Business Center, Divine Business Glory Business Center, EGL Business Center, Ekeson Business Investment, God Has The Answer Business Center, Honesty Investment, M. Divine Ventures, Morning Star Business Center, Mother of Perpetual Help Business Center, O.C. Petty Trade, Omega Grace Business Center, Psalms 50, Rosetta Mulbah Business Center, S. Blessing General Merchandise, Shop Rite Business Center, Unique King Business Center, and Wisdom Light Limited.
Over a long time, Liberian and foreign creators of intellectual works had often complained to COSOL on the unauthorized use of their works by individual persons or business centers, while the creators get no financial benefits. Owners of these business centers are called “intellectual thieves”-a technical term used in the Creativity Industry.
Some of the affected works include songs, artworks, photos, wood carvings, etc.
Persons involved in such criminal acts include owners of radio stations, commercial vehicle operators (for songs) and owners/operators of entertainment centers (songs).
The Copyright Society of Liberia (COSOL) was founded on August 17, 2021.
