The Copyright Act

The Jamaica Intellectual Property Office (JIPO) is the primary Agency of the Ministry with responsibility for matters relating to intellectual property rights in Jamaica. The main role and functions of JIPO are to:

• Administer intellectual property laws now in force and to be enforced in future, in accordance with national policies and Jamaica’s bilateral, multilateral and international obligations on Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) protection as imposed by treaties, conventions, agreements and other legal instruments
• Heighten public awareness of the importance of IPRs, the Implementation of the laws and the workings of the intellectual property system in Jamaica
• Encourage and facilitate compliance with IPR laws through voluntary means and/or enforcement measures
• Ensure that the intellectual property laws and system contribute to national economic growth/development and realize the potential benefits of rights holders in Jamaica
• Advise the Government in its development and implementation of intellectual property policies; to ensure that the laws are consistent with the national objectives, and ensure adequate implementation of the country’s bilateral, regional and international intellectual property obligations
• Keep abreast and participate in the progressive development of intellectual property law in light of new technologies, globalization of trade, intellectual property co-operation and the emergence of new issues impacting the intellectual property system, such as e-commerce, protection of folklore and traditional knowledge, biodiversity and gene patenting
• Establish, maintain and strengthen all relevant regional and international affiliations and cooperation with governments, inter-governmental agencies and other intellectual property offices and organizations.