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A former Attorney General and Minister of Justice under the Mills� administration, Mrs Betty Mould-Iddrisu, has lauded the government�s initiative to spearhead the enforcement of the Intellectual Property Right (IPR). According to her, people�s innovations were key to the creation of artistic works, hence, the need to protect them. Intellectual Property (IP) is the creation of the mind, such as inventions; literary and artistic works; designs and symbols, as well as names and images used in commerce. Mrs Mould-Iddrisu who is currently the Lead Consult of PND Global Consultancy Limited, a consultancy firm, was addressing participants at the National Intellectual Property Forum (NIPS) in Accra last Thursday. The occasion was also used to launch the IP network, which is aimed at building the capacities of Ghanaians in drafting the IP laws, policies and patent applications, as well as mobilise resources to promote IP systems in Ghana. The forum, dubbed: �The role of Intellectual Property in promoting creativity and innovations in Ghana,� was organised in collaboration with the Registrar-General�s Department with the view to branding Ghanaian products, and also raising the level of IP awareness in the country. Intellectual Property According to Mrs Mould-Iddrissu, IP was protected in law by patents, copyright and trademarks, which enabled people to earn recognition or financial benefit from what they invented or created. The IP system, she added, sought to foster an environment in which creativity and innovation flourished by striking the right balance between the interests of innovators and the wider public interest. She stated that the biggest challenge the IPR was facing was the inability of local innovators and designers to know their rights and take action, where necessary, when they were abused. Piracy of designs �Ghana has severe issues with piracy designs, and that is affecting the local textiles and designers,� she said, and added that the phenomenon was leading to the shutting down of many local industries. She expressed worry over the music industry, which was associated with piracy, and had led to squabbles between music owners and pirates. She called on musicians to �wake up� and fight against piracy, �else the authors and artiste will no longer have rights over their products and the country will lose control over its own arts and designs.� Research Funds In respect of innovation, the former Attorney General said, �using our own indigenous technology to address our problems will improve the economic and social state of the country.� She described as a worrying trend, the rate at which the country largely depended on foreign researchers or foreign funds to do research, which were predetermined by the developed countries or donor partners. Collective Responsibility The President of IP Network Ghana, Mrs Sarah Anku, said the network in partnership with the government would protect the interest and rights of authors and artistes, as well as innovators in the country. She said innovation and creativity was key to the development of the country.