NEW: Over 500 Zimbabwean artists schooled in intellectual property rights

Online Reporter

OVER 500 artists have benefitted from an intellectual property rights training project that is running across the country.

The project aims to equip local artists – musicians, writers, dancers, visual, traditional herbalists, crafts and theatre practitioners – with the knowledge and resources needed to protect and monetise their intellectual property.

Culture Warriors Edutainment Trust, a local organisation, has been given the responsibility of implementing the project through organising workshops around Zimbabwe to raise awareness about intellectual property rights.

In an interview with The Sunday Mail Online, Culture Warriors Edutainment Trust director Mr Peter Mhino said he was pleased with the progress they made.

“To date, the project has covered Harare, Mashonaland West and is now moving to Mashonaland Central province.

“It (project) has helped more than 500 artists from different sectors to protect their intellectual property in Zimbabwe, with the help of Culture Fund Zimbabwe Trust and European Union Zimbabwe delegation,” he said.

The Government, he added, has played a vital role in the drive to ensure artists’ property rights are safeguarded.

“The Zimbabwe Intellectual Property Office, which is a Government agency that administers intellectual property laws, has been offering registration and advisory services to artists.

“Many artists may not be familiar with the concept of intellectual property or the benefits of registering and enforcing their rights.

“They may also not know how to access the available services and resources that can help them protect their intellectual property,” he said.