Background

AMCHAM's award-winning Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) campaign strap-lined 'Get Real' was launched in March 2007 to create awareness amongst the public of the importance of IPR protection and how violations continue to affect them, and is intended to help the public better understand IPR and the drastic effect of violations on both themselves and the country at large.

As part of the campaign, AMCHAM held a colloquium for magistrates, police officers and customs officials on the new IPR laws and penalties in Sri Lanka and discussed the issues faced by law enforcement officials when they prosecute those who violate IPR laws.

The 'Get Real' campaign was a joint initiative with AMCHAM taking the lead role, and supported by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, the National Intellectual Property Office, the European Chamber of Commerce in Sri Lanka and many other stakeholders.

The campaign was conceptualized by AMCHAM and executed by Burson-Marsteller (formerly RowlandPR, part of Bates Strategic Alliance) included press advertisements, press articles and radio commercials.

Awards

The radio commercials won the Bronze award at Chillies 2008, Sri Lanka's premier advertising competition and festival.

The overall campaign was awarded the first prize for the Best Advocacy Campaign launched by a local chamber by the Federation of Commerce & Industry in Sri Lanka, the apex organization for trade and commerce with a membership of more than 40 trade and industrial chambers and associations in Sri Lanka.