The Protecting the Artistic Traditions of Trinidad and Tobago initiative (PATH‑TT) recently hosted its first virtual stakeholder meeting, bringing together masmakers, cultural workers, and community leaders to discuss safeguarding traditional Mas as intellectual property. The session highlighted the challenges creatives face when their performances, costumes, and images are used without consent or compensation.

The steelpan is more than a musical instrument — it is the heartbeat of Trinidad and Tobago’s cultural identity. In this World Steelpan Day feature, Attorney-at-Law Nigel Trancoso explains how intellectual property law can protect the steelpan’s heritage, ensure its authenticity, and create lasting economic opportunities for the communities that gave it to the world.

The case stemmed from the unauthorised use of Sean Caruth’s iconic 2001 Soca hit, “The Cook” (popularly known as “Coal Pot”), in advertising campaigns for the Tobago Blue Food Festival in 2012.

In a major victory for creative rights, the Court of Appeal has ruled in favour of soca artist Sean Caruth in his case against the Tobago House of Assembly. This article explores what the Caruth v. THA decision means for performers and content creators in Trinidad and Tobago—especially regarding neighbouring and moral rights under the Copyright Act.