Intellectual property rights and copyright protection in Ghana

Master's Thesis from the year 2018 in the subject Law - Comparative Legal Systems, Comparative Law, grade: 5, , language: English, abstract: This study aimed at assessing the potential of IPRs as a tradable commodity with emphasis on copyright, to improve Ghanäs economy through job creation, employment and wealth generation. Specifically, the study assessed the working knowledge of selected copyright holders on IPRs in Ghana, the level of compliance of the copyright law, the extent to which copyright protection and enforcement can inure to the benefit of copyright holders in Ghana and the willingness of copyright holders to promote the use of copyright institutions. It also determined the value of direct employment generated by copyright in Ghana. The study utilized both qualitative and quantitative sources of data. These were obtained through interviews with various key personnel of various institutions, organizations and government departments whose work and users relates directly to IPR and Copyrights regulations and policy in Ghana. Secondary data was similarly collected from these institutions. It was concluded that the level of copyright IP and awareness was not up to the level expected especially in enforcement of the copyright law. Even though it was established that there was some level of copyright awareness among Ghanaians, particularly students, infringements of the existing copyright laws were higher and compliance through enforcement of the copyright laws by the law enforcement agencies was urgently necessary. Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) have assumed various roles in the knowledge-based economies by acting as incentives to invent and innovate. They have also become a tool for ensuring equitable and fair utilization of genetic resources. Given these roles, individuals and firms increasingly continue to seek protection for their intellectual property rights to increase their competitive advantage, protect their markets and to prevent competitors from taking undue advantage of their inventions/innovations.