Intellectual Property Protection for Brand Jamaica's Creative Industries

Abstract

Since the last decade, strategies employed by governments to manage their country brands have evolved beyond tourism marketing techniques. It is quite commonplace now for most governments to hire marketing specialists to design and implement county brand campaigns and policies to promote country brands globally to attract foreign direct investment into that country. Whether it is the arts-based "creative industry" or an "enterprise culture", these features have evolved to become the drivers of profit in global markets, and give each nation a "competitive edge" over other nations in regards to their national brand. Country brand management is integral for the successful development of industry sectors and is also dependent on good country image. For Brand Jamaica one such industry is the creative industries sector. Brand Jamaica's creative industries are mostly comprised of the branded tourism accommodations, atmosphere, heritage and culture as well as the indigenous music and recordings of local artistes and singers. For the development of this sector which currently contributes to Jamaica GDP it is interpreted that enforced intellectual property will play a key role especially in the promoting of the brand online. Good management of country brands creative industries involves good business acumen on protecting and developing that sector as it is vital towards translating the intangible wealth of developing countries into economic growth. Enforced intellectual property protection for Brand Jamaica's music, arts, theatrical productions and creative expressions ultimately lessen the occurrence of infringements of the brand's assets, piracy and production of counterfeit goods and services produces, while creating future possibilities in cyberspace.