Basseterre, St. Kitts, November 01, 2023 (SKNIS): St. Kitts and Nevis has entered into a groundbreaking partnership with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) to launch a unique project focusing on the intersection of Intellectual Property (IP) and sports. Marking a global first, this initiative positions the Federation at the forefront of exploring and maximizing the potential of IP in the sports industry.
On Wednesday, November 01, 2023, Hasan Kleib, Deputy Director General of the Regional and National Development Sector at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), celebrated the inauguration of the project at the Department of Sports Conference Room at Port Zante.
“This is an unprecedented pilot project globally, and we’ve chosen to launch it right here in St. Kitts and Nevis, making you the trailblazers for IP and Sports,” stated Hasan Kleib. “Given your impressive National Sports Policy and Strategic Plan 2022-2026, we believe that St. Kitts and Nevis has the potential to make this pilot project highly successful, and in the future, we aim to expand this initiative to other countries.”
He further explained that the goal is to explore ways to leverage the intellectual property system to add value to the sports sector, among other things.
Highlighting that innovation and creativity in sports extend beyond the playing field, the Honourable Garth Wilkin, Attorney-General (AG) and Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs emphasized the importance of inventors, designers, and creators in enhancing athletic performance and the overall sports experience.
AG Wilkin underscored his point by spotlighting the common sports shoe, detailing how a combination of patented technologies, design safeguards, trademarks, and copyrights work together to augment its performance capabilities, give it a unique look, enhance its market appeal, and boost its economic worth.
“Intellectual property rights are the lifeblood of the sports industry,” stated AG Wilkin. He elaborated on how these rights foster technological advancements, establish unique identities for teams and events, and catalyze the revenue necessary for the global broadcasting of sports.
The Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs said that licensing and merchandising agreements rooted in intellectual property rights contribute to the growth of the sports industry, job creation, and public infrastructure development. In this light, sports and IP are not mere partners but are collaborators crucial to the success and evolution of the sports world.
Attorney-General Wilkin announced a proud collaboration with WIPO, aiming to unlock the potential of the sports sector in St Kitts and Nevis. The initiative, launched today, seeks to conduct a diagnostic review of the nation’s sports ecosystem and to enhance the awareness and effective use of IP tools in the context of the sports industry.
“Thank you, Deputy Director, from the Government and People of St Kitts and Nevis for choosing us to be part of this project,” said the attorney-general while expressing gratitude and anticipation for the positive impacts of the collaboration.
The launch event was also attended by Ambassador H.E. Kenny Douglas, Special Advisor for Sports; Jihan Williams, IP Registrar and Director of the local Intellectual Property Office, and Valencia Syder, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Sports & The Creative Economy.
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