The transitional unity government has been urged by the United Nations Educational Scientific Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to set up legal framework to enhance protection of intellectual property.
“We are also calling on the government to be part of intellectual property convention so that the protection is not just at the national level but also at the global level, it is really important that South Sudan has, first of all, national law for copy right protection,” Banda said during opening a two-day symposium on copyright bill at Landmark Hotel in Juba.
“There is a challenge that you will have if we do not have legal framework like the copyright bill itself in place or if the country like South Sudan has not ratified international convention,” he added.
Banda emphasized the need for copy right law to protect artists, inventors and other creative people.
“In a nation that is sometimes seeking ways of living together, the artists are the bridge between people even if people do not understand the lyrics, they will understand the rhythm and the sentiment from the song and that contributes to peace building,” he said.
Deng Aling, the Director for Hope Society, welcomed the copyright and intellectual property law idea.
“The potential in the creative industry is huge, it is about cultural content but also creative opportunity that employs a lot of people in the industry, when you hold a pen, when you compose a song, think about a play and film making,” Aling added.
