Television has evolved from being a simple medium for content delivery into a vibrant and dynamic platform, encompassing everything from entertainment to information, with an impressive variety of genres and formats. This transformation has been driven not only by technology but also by the key role intellectual property (IP) plays in protecting and promoting the ideas, creations, and businesses within the industry.
Without these protection mechanisms and the rewards offered by intellectual property, creators would not have had the necessary incentive to innovate and push the boundaries of possibility. It is essential to highlight that intellectual property not only protects what has already been created but also acts as a powerful incentive for innovation. By ensuring the protection of original ideas, IP provides creators with the confidence to experiment, take risks, and explore new ways of storytelling, offering the necessary motivation to innovate.
This is evident at the national level. Dominican television has undergone a remarkable transformation in recent years, driven by this protection incentive that fosters technological and creative innovation. The shift to digital formats, the implementation of high-definition (HD) broadcasts, and the growing integration of online platforms have redefined how Dominicans consume audiovisual content. This wave of innovation underscores the importance of intellectual property, as the creation of local productions with authentic stories and cutting-edge recording techniques requires proper copyright and trademark protection.
According to data from the National Copyright Office (ONDA), 1,161 works were registered in physical format during the first quarter of 2023, of which 84.4% were literary works, 13.6% artistic works, and 2% scientific works. Ensuring ownership of these works not only encourages investment in the sector but also guarantees that creators can benefit from their work, preventing piracy and promoting the export of content that positions the Dominican television industry as a regional benchmark.
That is how we see creativity and innovation in television have been propelled by the protection provided by intellectual property. Without the ability to safeguard their ideas and receive rewards for their work, creators would lack the necessary stimulus to continue innovating. Thanks to intellectual property, television has been able to evolve, adapt to modern times, and offer increasingly diverse, innovative, and accessible content.
Undoubtedly, intellectual property will remain one of the fundamental pillars on which future television innovations are built.
Author:
Laura Pérez – [email protected]
Associate, Intellectual Property and New Technologies
Ulises Cabrera
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