From left: TEATT Minister Stuart Johnson, BIP Vice-Chairperson Glennis Vlaun, BIP Director Vincentia Rosen-Sandiford, BIP Chairperson Melinda Hoeve, member Ahmed Bell and TEATT Cabinet policy advisor Otmar Jonis.
PHILIPSBURG--The Bureau for Intellectual Property (BIP) board met with Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT) Stuart Johnson on Monday to provide updates on the organisation.
BIP Director Vincentia Rosen-Sandiford provided updates and a brief history on the “inner workings of the Bureau” during the meeting. Also discussed was the working relationship with the Benelux Office for Intellectual Property and services rendered by BIP.
Johnson encouraged the board to raise awareness within the community about the services it provides. He also urged BIP to increase its efforts to provide education on the services and their benefits/advantages. These measures, if adequately executed, will only serve to benefit the relatively new organisation, it was stated in a press release on Wednesday.
Johnson said government is working towards creating an environment that embraces entrepreneurialism and creativity, and while competition is healthy, it is essential that everyone be aware that BIP is a means of protecting one’s inspirations.
BIP’s services include the registration of national and international trademarks; recording ideas, concepts and creations; and I-Envelope and patent registration via the Patent Bureau in the Netherlands. BIP provides several other services, including information on intellectual property rights, such as copyright information.
Johnson said many very concerning challenges were identified during the meeting with BIP. Some issues date back to previous administrations and must be addressed post-haste.
“As such, I have already made arrangements for follow-up meetings with the Board of BIP so that we can tackle these challenges and move forward productively,” Johnson said.
