Customs and FIA officials foiled attempts to smuggle about 200 million pirated CDs to 46 countries and dismantled six CD factories involved in the illegal business during past 10 months.
In an exclusive interview director general Intellectual Property Organisation, (IPO), Yasin Tahir told Business Recorder here on Thursday that all intellectual property enforcement authorities are taking necessary steps for protection of intellectual property rights in the country.
He said that the previous registries like trademarks, copyrights, patents, industrial designs and layout designs of integrated circuits have been integrated into single IPO to deal with all forms of IP.
Yasin said "intellectual property" includes a patent, industrial design, layout design (topographies) of integrated circuits copyright and related rights, service mark, trade mark, trade name, undisclosed information or trade secrets, traditional knowledge, geographical indications, technical know-how and ideas for new products and markets, commercial information about customer or any combination thereof.
He said that IPO, which is working under direct control of Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has adopted a business like approach to the provision of services to its clients in order to increase foreign direct investment and promote the globalised industrial/business culture in Pakistan.
He said that universities and the research institutions have also started registration of their intellectual property with the IPO. NUST University got 17 of its patents registered with the IPO in a short span of time.
He said that piracy and counterfeiting is dangerous to the national economy, therefore the government has made this offence cognisable and non-bailable. "The IPO is administering and coordinating all government systems for the protection and strengthening of IP rights under the law.
He said that IPO is also engaged in computerising its data, upgrading its infrastructure and capacity besides promoting awareness about intellectual property issues in the pubic and private sector.