“I think a lot of creative people in Southeast Asia, especially Indonesia, know how to create but they don’t really know how to protect their work.”
These are the words of Emirsyah Dinar, Managing Partner of AFFA Intellectual Property Rights who spoke at the Creative Catalyst 2024 Roundtable “Navigating Intellectual Property” (25/10). His statement was particularly directed towards us, the youth, who are going to shape the future of Intellectual Property (IP) in the region.
From creating viral contents to business startups, it’s undeniable that we, Gen Zs and Millennials, play a defining role in advancing our local creative industry through IP creation. Considering the value it would bring us personally and collectively, recognizing and safeguarding IP should be the norm among young creatives.
So, how can we help our peers retain ownership of their creative work and earn what they deserve for it? Here are 4 ways we can help make a difference by spreading the word about IP and its importance.
©2024 ACE-YS/Gani Amin
1. Creating Space for IP Discussion
Raising awareness about IP can start by sharing knowledge through discussions. We can create opportunities for conversation and collaboration by organizing platforms such as workshops, school visits, or community talks with IP experts. A good example would be TimeOut!—where individuals from diverse backgrounds can exchange views and learn from IP experts.
2. Organizing IP Awareness Campaigns
We can also create digital campaigns with engaging content to raise awareness, both on the significance of IP protection and the consequences of copyright infringement.
To efficiently communicate with our peers and reach a wider audience, we can share these digital campaigns through popular social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok, or even blogs, podcasts, and YouTube channels. By spreading reliable knowledge, we make valuable resources available to a lot of young people seeking to understand IP.
3. Collaborating with Local Organizations
Becoming a content creator is certainly not the only way to help others have a better understanding of IP.
What we can also do is support local NGOs, educational institutions, and community organizations dedicated to IP. We can assist them in organizing events, workshops, and programs focused on increasing IP awareness.
4. Participating in Competitions and Events
When searched for, there are in fact many competitions and events focused on IP awareness. One example would be the International Trademark Association (INTA) Asia-Pacific Moot Court Competition.
We can participate with our own works to raise the importance of IP rights to promote a culture of respect for intellectual property. At the same time, this type of event could serve as opportunities to learn about IP from peers and professionals.
Conclusion
Other than all the steps mentioned above, we can always take small steps like talking and sharing what we know about IP to our friends and family. It’s never too soon to start a collective action that would help build a creative world where ideas are respected, protected, and valued.
To borrow a quote from Emirsyah Dinar,
“Young people need to be educated that all IPs have values, including their own. It’s important for them to learn about IP protection and that stealing other people’s IP is wrong.”
Educational institutions, stakeholders, and businesses, all have a part to play at keeping people’s creative rights from being stolen or discredited. But as the next players in the Asian creative economy, the future of intellectual property ultimately rests in our hands.
Now, how would you start spreading awareness about IP?
Writer: Aubrey Charissa Bhrawardhana
Editor: K. Langit Rinesti
