The government has placed Intellectual Property Organisation (IPO) under Ministry of Commerce in the light of Strategic Trade Policy Framework 2015-18. IPO-Pakistan is the focal government body for registration and protection of Intellectual Property rights (copyrights, patents, trademarks, industrial designs etc) in the country. It was established as an Integrated Intellectual Property Management Body in 2005. IPO Pakistan was given permanent legal cover in the form of IPO Act, on 6th December, 2012.
Talking to Business Recorder, Director General IPO Pakistan, Shahid Latif said that performance and achievements of IPO-Pakistan during its short span of existence are commendable in arousing public awareness and sensitizing the consumers of their legitimate rights to opt for genuine and branded products and services.
The organisation has made efforts to curb counterfeiting and piracy with the support of enforcement agencies, ie, Police, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and Pakistan Customs; fostered fair trade practices; improved service delivery in protection of Intellectual Property Rights and increased co-ordination to wage a war against unfair trade and piracy/plagiarism
Intellectual Property (IP) Tribunals have been established by the Federal Government under Section-16 of the IPO Act 2012. IP Tribunals have been established at Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore. Presiding Officers have been appointed and the Tribunals have been operationalised by enforcing the relevant sections of IPO Act, 2012. It would surely result in speedy disposal of the suits and proceedings pending in any court instituted under Intellectual Property laws.
IPR enforcement co-ordination has been institutionalized through the enforcement co-ordination committees, comprising all agencies in the enforcement chain, in Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore. Its membership comprises IPO-Pakistan, FIA, Police, Pakistan Customs, and PEMRA. Private sector has also been taken into the loop at the forum of IPR enforcement co-ordination. During recent past IPO-Pakistan has signed an MoU with FBR and provided technical support to Pakistan Customs for devising IPR (Export and Import) Enforcement Rules under Customs Act, 1969. IPO-Pakistan has developed guidelines for field officers of FIA namely "Copyright Law Enforcement Manual for FIA Officials".
IPO-Pakistan with the support of European Union under Trade Related Technical Assistance (TRTA) Program and World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) has digitized all of its records including about 516,000 files of Trademarks, Copyrights and Patents. The overall impact of automation in the organisation would improve service delivery; better performance; time saving and consumer friendly.
He further stated that due to effective IPR co-ordination with enforcement agencies and practical measures United States has removed Pakistan from priority watch List in the year 2016. Shahid Latif stated that attachment IP of change will help for innovation and creation of marketable and exportable IP products, export promotion, economic development, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and prosperity of genuine businesses in the country.
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