Moca.- The National Copyright Office (ONDA) highlighted that the growth in the registration of artistic, scientific, and literary works constitutes a positive sign for the strengthening of the creative economy of the Dominican Republic, by recognizing the value of creativity and intellectual production as engines of cultural and economic development.
But that increase has not been accidental, but rather the result of a policy that has been executed during these six years of the administration of President Luis Abinader, with which inter-institutional actions have been coordinated to protect intellectual property in all areas of human creation. Its irrefutable achievement is the exclusion of the Dominican Republic from the United States Trade Representative’s Special 301 Report.
The assessment was expressed during the discussion on copyright and related rights held on Saturday, August 8, led by the Director General of ONDA, José Rubén Gonell Cosme, and Mayor Miguel Guarocuya Cabral, as part of the institutional initiatives aimed at promoting knowledge and protection of copyright throughout the national territory.
The activity brought together representatives of collective management societies, municipal authorities, artists, composers, writers, communicators, cultural managers, and representatives of the educational and cultural sectors of the Espaillat province.
During the meeting, the role of ONDA was highlighted as the body responsible for administering, protecting, and promoting the copyright and related rights system in the Dominican Republic, ensuring that creators are aware of the mechanisms available to protect their works and receive the corresponding recognition for their intellectual production.
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Likewise, the importance of continuing to strengthen the culture of intellectual property protection through guidance and training actions aimed at authors, artists, and rights holders was highlighted.
The welcoming remarks highlighted the historical, artistic, and intellectual tradition of Moca, as well as the importance of bringing ONDA’s services and programs closer to the country’s creative communities.
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The discussion featured interventions by Valerio de León, in charge of Interinstitutional Relations with Collective Management Societies; the artist and composer Carlos Brito, and Wilkis Santana, a copyright specialist representing ONDA.
The presentations combined experiences linked to artistic work with guidance on intellectual property, emphasizing the importance for authors, musicians, composers, and other rights holders to register their works, in addition to using the legal tools available to protect their creations.
Cultural career achievement awards
One of the most significant moments of the day was the presentation of special awards to personalities recognized for their contributions to art and culture. The composer and musician Carlos Brito; Sally Rodríguez, artisan, and Juan Alberto Tejada Méndez, poet and painter, were honored in recognition of their career and contribution to the cultural heritage of the Espaillat province.
The activity also highlighted the relationship between the protection of intellectual property and the development of cultural and creative industries, emphasizing copyright as a tool that contributes to generating economic and social value from talent and innovation.
With this event, the ONDA reaffirms its commitment to decentralizing guidance actions on copyright and strengthening the bond with creative communities across the country, promoting a culture of registration, protection, and respect for intellectual property.
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The meeting concluded with an exchange space among the participants, strengthening ONDA’s institutional mission to foster the protection of creativity and contribute to the cultural and economic development of the Dominican Republic.
