Athletes are being encouraged to leverage their intellectual property (IP) for business success through the Jamaica Intellectual Property Office (JIPO).

This call came from Minister of State in the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Delano Seiveright, during his address at JIPO’s Intellectual Property and Sports Symposium and Showcase, held on Wednesday (April 29) at the University of Technology, Jamaica (UTech) in Kingston.

“Sport is tourism, tourism is business and intellectual property strengthens both. This is why Jamaica must not only produce champions; we must build ecosystems. We must ensure our athletes retire with assets… we must ensure our sporting institutions own and protect their brands,” he stated.

The event formed part of activities marking Intellectual Property Week and brought together experts and thought leaders to explore the role of intellectual property in driving economic growth and safeguarding creative works.

Explaining that intellectual property is the monetising agent of sports, Mr. Seiveright said: “When broadcasting rights are sold, that is IP generating revenue; when an athlete signs an endorsement deal, that is IP creating income.

“When merchandise is produced and sold, that is IP driving business. When a sports innovation is patented, that is IP protecting investment. When a team logo is licensed, that is IP creating recurring value,” the State Minister added.

Mr. Seiveright noted that when properly managed, this value does not disappear after the final whistle. Instead, it continues to generate wealth for years to come.

“That is where Jamaica must become even more strategic because, too often, our people create value, but others capture it. Too often, our talent is celebrated globally, but not sufficiently monetised locally. Too often, we perform brilliantly but do not own enough of what we create. That must change,” he emphasised.

Against this background, Mr. Seiveright stated: “That is why JIPO’s work matters so much. Protecting intellectual property is not simply about registration. It is about ownership, it is about commercialisation, it is about ensuring Jamaican creativity becomes Jamaican wealth.”

“JIPO is not merely a registry, it is a business facilitation agency. It is helping Jamaican entrepreneurs, athletes, creators, inventors, and MSMEs (micro, small and medium-size enterprises) move from idea to asset, from innovation to investment, from talent to ownership,” he further noted.

The symposium aimed to promote awareness and understanding of intellectual property rights, highlighting their importance in fostering innovation and protecting creativity.

The event featured presentations and panel discussions on key areas such as copyright, trademarks, patents, and the commercialisation of intellectual assets.