THE Soqosoqo ni marama ko Lau held a first Lau Intellectual Property Awareness Workshop at the Yatu Lau Conference Centre in Suva last Thursday.
It brought together women, youth, and men from across Lau to learn how to safeguard their crafts, knowledge and creativity through patents, trademarks and geographical indications.
For years, people of Lau have raised concerns that their traditional knowledge, designs and ideas have been exploited, abused, and misused for the monetary gain of others.
Speaking at the workshop, Acting Solicitor-General Iliesa Tuiloma said cultural heritage goes beyond money.
Mr Tuiloma said traditional knowledge was important.
“It’s very significant because it has not only the social and financial effect,” he said.
“It also follows through with some spiritual and the feelings and that’s what outsiders don’t realise how important this traditional knowledge and cultural expression is.”
He also highlighted examples of misuse.
“We know that kava has already been now patented by German as well as US companies.
“The second one is most of the products that we have, for example, the tanoa now has been registered in the US.”
He said a new Bill, which was tabled in Parliament in September following public consultations is aimed at protecting Lau resources and ending what many call daylight robbery “of their sacred knowledge, art and designs”.
Mr Tuiloma added the public complaints had led to the drafting of the proposed Bill which has been welcomed by a majority of those who were part of the public consultations.
Women take a break for refreshments during workshop at the Yatu Lau Conference Hall in Suva.
Picture: JULIA VADEI
Left: Participants during the intellectual property awareness workshop in Suva. Picture: JULIA VADEI
Acting Solicitor-General Iliesa Tuiloma at the workshop at the Yatu Lau Conference Centre in Suva. Picture: JULIA VADEI
Women having time to socialise during the Soqosoqo Ni Marama Ko Lau Intellectual Property Awareness Workshop at the Yatu Lau conference room in Suva. Picture: JULIA VADEI
