Culture experts promote the protection of intellectual property.

Culture experts to promote preservation of intellectual property
 
Culture experts are organising an online seminar on April 28 to encourage the public to protect and preserve intellectual property related to the culture of Laos.
The 90-minute online seminar on protecting Lao handicrafts and culture will be held through the Zoom application and will begin at 10.30 am. The seminar will provide the public a chance to learn from the experiences of experts on the subject.
The Director General of the Policy and Foreign Relations Department of the Intellectual Property Department of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Mr Xaybandith Xayavongkhamdy, designer and the owner of Khang brand, Ms Viengkham Nanthavongdouangsy, and the founder and co-director of the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre will join the online seminar with the theme “Why intellectual property on culture is significant for Laos”.
The public can listen and exchange ideas on how to protect intellectual property so that Lao arts and handicrafts for preserved for future generations.
Ms Viengkham, the mother of a weaver, said she appreciated the opportunity to take part in the seminar as it would allow her to promote and preserve Lao handicrafts. The seminar will also be a platform for exchanging experiences on creating pieces and collections for her brand.
 The another topics such why we have to cooperate with local handicrafts maker to design handicrafts product?
How to preserve the original handicrafts?
What’s a challenge in working with local handicrafts makers  will exchange at the seminar .
She said she spends a lot of time visiting rural communities to talk with local weavers on making textiles, their specific patterns and the use of natural dyes, as well as to promote original handicrafts that symbolise communities and provinces.
Ms Viengkham also uses textiles from different communities to create her fashion collections that are showcased at fashion events in order to promote Lao textiles and to create jobs within local communities.

By Sisouphan Amphonephong
(Latest Update April 22, 2022)