The innovative and creative mind is the force behind the progress mankind has made since the dawn of civilisation. From the possibility of flight, the ongoing development of medicine, to the humble paper clip, we can see and experience the benefits in our daily lives.

The scientific world is of course complemented by the literary, musical and artistic works created as a result of man’s feelings and experiences – works which in turn serve to provide pleasure and evolve into cultural heritage.

Man’s innovation and creativity have spawned million dollar industries, and form the backbone in the business society. From the early days of shipbuilding to the modern ICT era, from the Guttenberg press to the publishing and entertainment industries, there is total dependence on ongoing innovation and creativity.

The results of such innovation and creativity are collectively known as intellectual property, while intellectual property rights are the rights the national authorities vest in creators and innovators to encourage further development. It is imperative to note that intellectual property is also the lifeline of SMEs. Without a structural intellectual property rights regime, these find it difficult to survive.

Therefore, it is essential that the Maltese community is continuously reminded of these rights, how they may be protected, and why it is essential to respect the rights of others. To this end, the Commerce Division within the Competitiveness and Communications Ministry has coordinated two projects directly financed by EU funds.

The first project consisted, among other things, of training officials at the Commerce Division trainers of IP. This has resulted in a number of IP workshops that have so far been carried out, and which will continue to be carried out since there is a demand for knowledge and information on IP from the local stakeholders. As part of this project the experts also conducted workshops with Customs and police on the latest technologies used in the identification of counterfeit goods.

The second project consists of a media campaign which was officially being launched last week. The scope is to sensitise the Maltese public to the subject of IP and to create an understanding for the need to protect one’s own creations and to respect those of others. This campaign, which is intended to run over a duration of approximately three months, will consist of advertising in all forms of media, such as adverts in the local newspapers and popular magazines, television commercials, as well as advertising on bus shelters, billboards and buses.

In order to complement the media campaign, stationery material with a simple but clear messages on IP will also be in circulation to SMEs and educational institutions. In addition, short video presentations are being created on different topics of IP such as innovation, testimonials from local companies who have benefited from IP, and others. These presentations will be used during workshops and seminars on IP.

One’s creations, whether in the form of an original name for a line of products or services, or a new design of a product or a novel, and innovative methods for carrying out a process or product, are valuable assets to the company or entrepreneur. It is therefore necessary to protect one’s creativity in order to reap the justifiable benefits for the use of one’s resources to arrive at the creation.

It is also necessary to be aware that there is a system for protecting your innovation against illegal use of this by third parties. Moreover, it is necessary that the general public is aware that there is the need to respect the intellectual property rights of others where the illicit use of these rights is in fact an illegal act equivalent to theft of money and personal objects punishable as a civil and criminal act.

I appreciate that the subject of intellectual property may be regarded as technical and an area which is to be handled only by lawyers and used only by large multinational companies. However, innovation and creativity is all around us and even the smallest company, entrepreneur or individual can be the owner of IP and not possibly even know it.

Every effort is thus being made to pass these messages on to widest audience possible in a clear and attractive manner.

Censu Galea is Competitiveness and Communications Minister