Minister to tackle issues facing BIP and urged BIP to increase awareness of services
PHILIPSBURG—The Board of the Bureau for Intellectual Property BIP met with Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Traffic & Telecommunication TEATT Stuart Johnson to provide updates on the organization, Monday, July 30.
The meeting was held at the Minister’s cabinet during which the BIP Director Vincentia Rosen-Sandiford provided updates along with a brief history on the “inner workings of the Bureau.” Amongst the matters discussed was the working relationship with the Benelux Office for Intellectual Property and services rendered by the Bureau.
Minister Johnson encouraged the board to raise awareness within the community about the services the bureau provides. He also urged the Bureau 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 organization.
He said the government is working towards creating an environment that fully embraces entrepreneurialism and creativity and while competition is healthy, it is essential that everyone be aware that the BIP is a means of protecting his or her inspirations.
BIP Services
The BIP’s services include the registration of national and international trademarks, Recordal of Ideas, along with concepts and creations, in an I-Envelope, patent registration via the Patent Bureau in the Netherlands. In general, it provides several other services including information on intellectual property rights, such as copyright information.
Minister to tackle issues facing BIP
Minister Johnson said many challenges were identified during the meeting with BIP which are very concerning. 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.
When questioned by StMaartenNews.com what these specific challenges were, StMaartenNews.com was informed that the minister wants an opportunity to first go more in depth on the issues before making details public.
Photo caption: From the left: Minister of TEATT Stuart Johnson, Glennis Vlaun (Vice-Chair of BIP), Vincentia Rosen-Sandiford (BIP Director), Melinda Hoeve (BIP Chair), Ahmed Bell (Member BIP), and Otmar Jonis (Policy Advisor for the Cabinet of TEATT). Photo provided by minister’s cabinet.
