WIPO for Creators

"Today, with the proliferation of social media and other platforms, it's easy for an artist to lose track of his or her work. So an initiative like WIPO for Creators is essential to get the recognition that we deserve. As an African artist, I know that the help of an initiative like WIPO for Creators is crucial. I have seen many, many of my fellow creators struggling to get access to information on how to protect their rights. The Internet has already helped us to get the international exposure. However, I think it is very important to improve our local system of intellectual property. We have to make sure that artists and creators from Africa are able to live from their work."

"We are artists. We just want to sing, make music and so people can listen to it and enjoy the good vibes. But in today's world, we need to be more proactive in understanding our rights, our obligations, and to know more about the digital side of things. WIPO for Creators is a wonderful initiative that will help us to understand these matters for ourselves. This is our livelihood and our future depends on it."

"Making art and music takes time and costs money. Therefore, creators must be protected or no one will invest those precious resources. If we want the fruit of artists work, it has to be possible for an artist to protect his or her work and to make enough money to live and keep creating… I think copyright is still the best way to ensure that artists are paid for their work so they can continue to create. And more importantly, I think copyright can strengthen the artists' legacy. WIPO for Creators is a really great initiative to help musicians all around the world, including myself, to protect their intellectual property rights."

"I work a lot on visual arts projects in Africa and was very pleased to learn about the WIPO for Creators initiative … If a creator’s work is exploited without remunerating the author, then intellectual property is being stolen. That's what it comes down to. … I believe that all property must be respected, whether it's intellectual or physical property. Otherwise, nobody will be able to create. If my work was being used anywhere in the world with or without my authorization, using my meaning or changing the meaning I want to put in there, I'd be very unhappy and I wouldn't be able to create more. "

"I would like to be an ambassador for the fair and noble initiative that is WIPO for Creators.  As a writer, I am highly sensitive to the fact that, as we are aware, many creators still cannot live on their works and may even face extreme difficulties.  The protection of their creations is essential both for their recognition and for them to be able to live.  Intellectual property protection, as guaranteed by WIPO, is therefore an important challenge and a modern-day necessity.  We want to play our rightful part in changing things and improving what must be improved."

"I am currently among the artists who have millions of views on social networks, and I would really like to know what to do to be able to further capitalize on all that.  Many artists are asking themselves the same question or the same questions as me as they would really like to be taken care of, and that is what WIPO for Creators is doing today.  I am sending a message to all artists, especially young people, that they should educate themselves because, nowadays, when you know your rights, you know exactly what to expect.  And, of course, you are able to access your own rights… WIPO for Creators is a great initiative that supports creators through copyright… I would be truly honored to be among the ambassadors, and friends, who will be leading this initiative."