Bringing Intellectual Property closer to the Youths - Perspectives from the local music industry

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Details: Category: Singapore; Published Date; Written by Super User

Singapore, 24 June 2011 – Some 145 secondary school students benefited from a practical hands-on experience about intellectual property (IP) in the music industry over a four-day camp, held in Singapore Polytechnic.

2 Entitled The Originals IP Champion Music Fiesta 2011, the camp was jointly organised by the Honour Intellectual Property (HIP) Alliance, which is the flagship public outreach initiative spearheaded by the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS), School of Digital Media and Infocomm Technology (DMIT) of Singapore Polytechnic, and East Zone Centre of Excellence for Creative Arts – Music Satellite @ Pasir Ris Crest Secondary School.

3 The camp provided participants a valuable opportunity for exposures to various aspects of IP in the music industry. This was done through interactive and thought-provoking activities such as music production workshops, a tour of the recording studios in DMIT, performance by SP students and dialogue sessions with local music industry veterans (refer to Annex A).

4. During the camp, participants aged 13-17 years old were able to harness their newfound knowledge and skills to create and perform original music compositions based on the theme, "What It Means to Be Original" in the first Originals IP Music Fiesta Song Composition Competition. The participants got the opportunity to be hands on in both the composition and performance of their original song composition unlike a typical singing competition. After an intensive competition, the Guest of Honour, Ms Sim Ann, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Education and Law presented the winning team comprising of Siti Rajagopal, Cheng Hoi Ting, Lidya Bte Muhammad Hidir of Cedar Girls' School with the prestigious Minister for Law Challenge Trophy! The winning team will embark on a valuable two-week internship with renowned recording studio, Ocean Butterflies Music (OB) later this year. OB introduced famed local artistes such as JJ Lin and A-do and this internship will give the winners a valuable insight into the music industry in areas such as music recording, artistes' liaison and album marketing. Under the guidance of an industry mentor, they will also have the opportunity to refine their composition and record their song professionally in the OB's recording studios.

5 Mr Tan Hang Cheong, Principal of Singapore Polytechnic added, “Our involvement in The Originals IP Champion Music Fiesta marks a significant milestone. This is our first time partnering the HIP Alliance, and through our collaborative efforts, we have witnessed a valuable synergy where we can help further spread the notion of IP respect amongst the youths whilst nurturing Singapore’s budding talents in original music composition.”

6 Mrs Woo Soo Min, Principal of Pasir Ris Crest Secondary School also said "We are honoured to be part of this programme that allows students with an interest in music making to come together to interact and exchange ideas. Through the music making process, I hope that the students will also learn about respect, honesty and teamwork which are essential values for development of their interests and talents especially in the area of music."

7     Outreach efforts such as The Originals IP Champion Music Fiesta 2011 are critical in influencing public awareness and attitudes towards IP and IP rights (IPR). A study commissioned by IPOS in 2010 revealed that 95.3% of the respondents were aware of the different acts of IPR infringement, and nearly 4 in 5 respondents frown upon IPR infringement and see IPR infringement as a form of theft. (More details on the survey findings are available here)

8     BG (NS) Tan Yih San, Chief Executive of Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) said: “As changing mindsets and attitudes takes time, public IP education will be a long term effort. Going forward, IPOS intends to step up efforts to bring IP closer to the people. This will be done through an integrated campaign, optimising both online and offline activities to engage the general public. In addition to this IP camp, IPOS has put together a series of outreach activities, including the HIP Friends Facebook page, the Originals HIP Adventure roving bus retrofitted with IP exhibits, and the upcoming The Originals Get Reel Contest. We look forward to continued support from our partners and the general public in these activities”

9     For more information about upcoming events, please refer to Annex B or visit www.facebook.com/HIPalliance.

Source: www.ipos.gov.sg