©️Care In The Morning
Florida, November 5, 2025.– Guest of the show « Carel In The Morning » This Wednesday, intellectual property specialist Vanessa Abdel Razak commented on the dispute between Wiss Joseph and Marie Joseph, owners of Zafem World Entertainment, and musician Dener Ceide, leader of the Zafem group.
Counsel recalled that the registration of a trade name is essential to protect a trade mark and to prevent conflicts, stating that such protection is territorial in nature. « An entrepreneur may register his trademark in each targeted country or use the Madrid Convention for international protection », she explained.
She pointed out that Judge Brian Cogan sentenced Dener Ceide on 17 September 2025 to cease using the name Zafem and to pay the complainants $1 million for unauthorized use. The appeal brought by the musician's lawyer did not suspend this decision, she said.
Vanessa Abdel Razak also deplored the weakness of copyright protection in Haiti, evoking obsolete laws dating back to 1954 and texts on patents over a century old. She criticized the authorities' lack of commitment: despite the ratification of international conventions, the country remained inactive on the ground.
She also regretted the lack of specialized judges and the slow pace of proceedings, which encouraged many creators to protect their works abroad, citing the case of Yanick Lahens.
Finally, Vanessa Abdel Razak concludes that awareness-raising and a thorough reform of the legal system are essential to ensure the protection of Haitian artists and entrepreneurs in the digital age.
W.E.
