#ipo pakistan

A Seminar on Protection of Intellectual Property was organized by Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI). Which was addressed by Mr. Younus Muhammad Bashir, President KCCI, Mr. Muhammad Ismail, Deputy Director - IPO-HQ Islamabad, Dr. Abdul Qadir Orakzai, Registrar Trademarks – Karachi, Mr. Shahid Latif Khan, Director General IPO-Pakistan, Mr. Karimullah Adeni, Managing Partner at Ali & Associates.

TRADEMARK INFRINGEMENT & COUNTERFEIT ISSUES FACED BY BRAND OWNERS

A seminar was organized by The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI) on Intellectual Property Rights on “TRADEMARK INFRINGEMENT & COUNTERFEIT ISSUES FACED BY BRAND OWNERS” on 8th September, 2016.

On this occasion Mr. Karimullah Adeni, Managing Partner at Ali & Associates, who is also Senior Vice-Chairman - FPCCI Standing Committee on IPR Enforcement, briefed the audience about importance of Intellectual Property protection and steps that can be taken to avoid counterfeiting.

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

    ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Intellectual Property Organisation (IPO) is soon going to get the approval of the federal cabinet on its ‘ordinance’ which would give legal cover to local and foreign businesses and bound law enforcement agencies to inflict and protect trademark, copyright and patent infringement laws.

Pakistan is currently on the United States’ “Priority Watch List”, regarding protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights (IPR) and is making hectic efforts to come out of the list to boost foreign businesses, trade and investment in the country, IPO Chairman Hameed Ullah Jan Afridi told The News.

“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 said.

Last year, the USTR annual ‘Special 301 Report’ that reviews trading partners’ protection of intellectual property rights, put 12 countries on it Priority Watch List including: China, Russia, Algeria, Argentina, Canada, Chile, India, Indonesia, Israel, Pakistan, Thailand and Venezuela.

The USTR appreciated 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 for deterrent-level penalties for IPR violations. It also called for further work to reform Pakistan’s copyright law.

Afridi said, “The Ministry of Law and Justice has already vetted the upgraded draft of the IPO Ordinance and is now waiting for the federal cabinet’s approval which will hopefully take place soon”. The IPO Ordinance would ensure establishment of a high-powered policy board, which will be comprised of the secretary interior , chairmen’s of Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, Pakistan Electronic Media Regularity Authority, Federal Board of Revenue and heads key enforcement agencies, he added.

Legally protecting the registered businesses under the IPO laws through controlling counterfeiting, unlawful use of trademark, copyright and patents will help boosting business, trade and investment, the chairman further said. The ordinance suggests infringement of IPR, a criminal offence, and asks the federal government to establish dedicated ‘IPO tribunals’ at provincial level which would speed up the disposal of the IPR cases and their enforcement.

The IPO has already obtained the consent of the Council of Common Interest (CCI) on the establishment of the tribunals, Afridi said.

The IPO has suggested to the central government to increase maximum penalty to Rs5 million with imprisonment of up to 10 years upon infringement of IPR, especially in infringement of food and medicine trademarks.

Afridi further said that the Federal Investigation 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 establishment of IPR Cell in Customs are underway.

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

    ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Intellectual Property Organization (IPO) will celebrate the World Intellectual Property Day on 26th with President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani to express country’s resolve, enthusiasm and sincerity regarding implementation and enforcement of the intellectual property rights (IPR) in Pakistan.

Pakistan Intellectual Property Organization (IPO) Chairman Hameedullah Jan Afridi said this during informal talks with newsmen.

“This will be a very positive message for the domestic and international investors and the business community that Pakistan is very much sincere in implementation of the IPRs.”

Afridi said, “For implementation, we will move the law-enforcement agencies to help the organization implement IP rights.”

Regarding the Intellectual Property Ordinance 2012, which is in the cabinet for approval, the chairman said that the organization has incorporated various things to the interests of the business community and investors. “We have proposed setting up applications collection desks in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, formation of policy board comprised of genuine officials and experts, and also separated the DG and chairman domains of work.