Universitas Muhammadiyah Buton held the signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) last Monday (30/8). The signing ceremony presented both parties, the Law Service and Human Rights Division, the Regional Board of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights (Kemenkumham) of Southeast Sulawesi, and UM Buton. From the Southeast Sulawesi Ministry, Maktub, S.H., M.H. as Head of Law Service and Human Rights, Abdi Tonglo S.H., M.Si., and Zulfaidah also presented. Then, from UM Buton parties, Rector of UM Buton, Dr. Wa Ode Al Zarliani SP., MM., Head of Research and Community Service Institute (LPPM), Hardin SP MM, Division Head of Intellectual Property, Publishing, and Innovation, Darojatun Andara SH., MH. also presented.

In his speech reported on the official UM Buton site, Maktub explained that the copyright is essential for UM Buton, because academia potentially creates the research result and community service inventors. Therefore, a Memorandum of Understanding for both parties about Intellectual Property was extremely necessary. “The lecturers and students should have legal protection for the potential of copyright, patent, industrial design, integrated circuit layout designs, trade secrets, trademarks, and geographical indication products,” he said.

In addition, Wa Ode Al Zarliani appreciated the arrival of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights (Kemenkumham) of Southeast Sulawesi. She explained that it was planned a year ago but has been delayed due to the pandemic. “To increase the accreditation, UM Buton currently needs Intellectual property, especially the patent. We hope this partnership will be valuable for both parties,” he said. Hardin mentioned UM Buton, which already had several intellectual properties. “All of them are in the form of book copyrights, video recordings, and woven fabric patterns. InsyaAllah, by this MoU, there are more patents from both lecturers and students, “ he hoped. [] Diktilitbang