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The Jamaican Government is being urged to speedily pass legislation that gives better protection for national emblems and symbols, so that overseas entities do not exploit them.
That recommendation comes from attorney at law Grace Lindo, an expert in the field of Intellectual Property.
Her proposal comes in the wake of the controversy sparked by Jamaican branded merchandise being sold on the website of international recording artiste Kanye West following his concert at Emancipation Park last Friday.
Culture Minister Olivia Grange, responding to public outrage over the matter, requested that the items be withdrawn.
Ms. Lindo, speaking Tuesday on RJR’s Beyond the Headlines, asserted that the country is in urgent need of specific legislation to protect its national symbols and emblems.
The time is opportune to do this, in light of the Kanye West issue, she said, adding that "we should put something (so) that persons doing research on coming to Jamaica for a weekend to do a concert, or otherwise looking to co-brand, can be clearly guided."
She acknowledged that there are opportunities for co-branding with Jamaica through the Office of the Prime Minister, but noted that "it takes some finding, with Google and other search methods for you to find out that you can go to OPM (Office of the Prime Minister) and do some sort of co-branding.
With a new law in place, with specific provisions for co-branding, she said "it would be much more prominent and people would know much more equickly what they can do and what they cannot do with our national symbols."
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