ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly has unanimously passed IPO-Pakistan Bill 2012 after detailed discussions, according to official sources.
The legislation will empower authorities to curtail infringement of intellectual property (IP) rights in the country. While addressing a press conference, Chairman IPO Hameed Ullah Jan Afridi termed the passage of the IPO bill as a landmark in the history of IPO-Pakistan. He said, “IPO-Pakistan has got legal entity after seven years since its inception in 2005.” New regional offices of the IPO will be opened in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Baluchistan, whereas to provide speedy justice and trial of IP-related cases, special IP tribunals will be established in the country, he added.
“The passage of the IPO bill will put Pakistan in 185 member countries of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) and after attaining legal protection of IP rights, local as well as foreign investors will be encouraged to invest in Pakistan,” said Afridi. He also appreciated the efforts of the international community, WIPO and the European Union for supporting capacity building of stakeholders and managing consultation processes to deliberate the proposed ordinances of IPO, before its presentation to the Cabinet and National Assembly.
According to Afridi, this initiative will provide an opportunity to ensure strict compliance of IP laws to prevent counterfeiting and piracy in the country. A policy board of the IPO will also be constituted for strengthening the IP structure in Pakistan, while new service rules for IPO’s employees will be drafted after the enactment of the IPO bill. Most importantly, President Asif Ali Zardari had already promulgated the IPO Ordinance 2012 on April 23, 2012. Now the organisation has the authority to form a board and exercise its power in providing legal cover to local and foreign businesses and binding law enforcement agencies inflict and protect trademark, copyright and patent infringement laws.
Pakistan is currently on the US’ Priority Watch List, concerning protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights (IPR) and is endeavouring to come out of the list to boost foreign businesses, trade and investment in the country, said Afridi. “We had sent to the United States Trade Representative (USTR) our plans about the enforcement of the IPRs in the country and our administration resolve to maintain and encourage effective IPR protection and we hope that Pakistan will come out of this red zone [priority watch list],” Afridi added.
Last year, the USTR’s annual special 301 report, placed 12 countries on its Priority Watch List, including China, Russia, Algeria, Argentina, Canada, Chile, India, Indonesia, Israel, Pakistan, Thailand and Venezuela. The USTR appreciated the progress in the enforcement of IPR in 2010 which included improved cooperation between the copyright industry and enforcement authorities, as well as more vigorous enforcement against optical disc and book piracy. However, it says that widespread copyright piracy (including book piracy and piracy of software programs in enterprises), as well as trademark counterfeiting still persists. It also asked Pakistan to provide ex-officio authority to its enforcement officials, and to provide deterrent-level penalties for IPR violations. It also called for further work to reform Pakistan’s copyright law.
The IPO Ordinance will ensure the establishment of a high-powered policy board, comprising secretary interior, chairman Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority, Federal Board of Revenue and heads of key enforcement agencies. Legally protecting registered businesses under the IPO laws through controlling counterfeiting, unlawful use of trademark, copyright and patents will help to boost business, trade and investment. The Federal Investigative Agency has already established a dedicated IPR cell but it is not fully functional, while the IG Police has already consented for its creation and talks for the establishment of the IPR cell in customs are underway.
(By Israr Khan, Source: www.thenews.com.pk)
