Monrovia, Liberia – The Government of Liberia, through the Liberia Intellectual Property Office (LIPO), has waived administrative fees for registering intellectual property assets in the sports sector. The move aims to reduce financial barriers and encourage formal protection of IP rights in sports.
LIPO Director General Garmai Koboi announced the one-month waiver during the World IP Day celebration, saying it takes effect immediately. It covers all sports stakeholders, including athletes and footballers looking to protect and monetize their IP.
“This waiver is meant to help sports organizations and professionals secure their intellectual property without facing upfront costs,” Koboi said.
World IP Day is observed globally on April 26. This year’s theme was “IP and Sports: Ready, Set, Innovate,” focusing on how IP drives the economic value of sports beyond talent alone.
Liberia marked the day on Monday, April 27, with the national theme: “Registering the Game: Unlocking the Commercial Power of Sport through Intellectual Property in Liberia.” LIPO said the theme is a call for the sports industry to shift from informal activity to formal, protected economic value.
Delivering the keynote, Deputy Commerce Minister for Administration Tarnue N. Jeke said IP is “at the center of the modern sports business model.” He urged federations, clubs, and athletes to treat IP as a core business asset, not a secondary legal issue.
Jeke explained that trademarks protect the identities of clubs, leagues, and athletes, while copyright covers broadcasts, photos, videos, and digital content. These rights underpin licensing, merchandising, sponsorship, and media deals across the global sports industry.
“When we talk about sport, we’re not just talking about competition. We’re talking about economic value created through intellectual property,” he said. “Any federation running competitions without managing its marks, licensing, and media rights is organizing activity, but not building assets.”
He added that respect for IP is what converts popularity into revenue and reputation into long-term commercial value. “This isn’t just ceremonial. It’s the start of a broader economic conversation for sports in Liberia.”
Panelists at the event stressed that sport goes beyond performance to include identity, creativity, branding, media value, and investment. They urged LIPO to work more closely with sports bodies, media, civil society, and government to close knowledge gaps that have led to low IP registration in the sector.
“To unlock the commercial power of sport in Liberia, awareness, protection, collaboration, and implementation must go together. That’s a job for LIPO, government, sports stakeholders, the media, civil society, and the public,” they concluded.
Reported by: Rancy S. Teewia
