Liberia's IP Office urges sports bodies to protect brands in push for growth

Liberia’s Intellectual Property Office has marked World Intellectual Property Day by calling for stronger protection of sports brands to boost the country’s sports economy. The event, held under the theme Unlocking the Commercial Power of Sport through Intellectual Property in Liberia, brought together sports administrators, athletes, business leaders, journalists and policymakers to discuss how branding, licensing and legal safeguards can generate new revenue.

Sports Writers Association of Liberia president Varmah Kamara said his organisation was keen to collaborate and asked LIPO to run education and awareness training for journalists to help spread the message nationwide. SWAL members attended in large numbers. Speaking at the ceremony in Monrovia, LIPO Director General Garmai Koboi announced a one-month waiver for all sports institutions to formalise their status with the office. The waiver applies to registration of trademarks, logos and other brand assets.

Ms Koboi said the measure was designed to encourage compliance and ease administrative burdens on clubs and associations that had yet to align with intellectual property regulations. She added that many local clubs operated without formally protecting their identities, leaving them open to brand misuse and lost commercial opportunities.

The grace period, she said, would give stakeholders time to consult, finalise branding strategies and prepare documentation. LIPO pledged technical support to help institutions through the registration process during the waiver. The Liberian event was part of global commemorations aimed at raising awareness of the role of intellectual property rights in creativity, innovation and economic development. LIPO said it remained committed to working with sports authorities and the private sector to build a more structured and commercially viable sports industry in Liberia.