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16 October 2017
Intellectual Property Pakistan
Introduction
Improving Pakistan's IP image
Comment
Introduction
There have been many significant developments concerning Pakistan's IP regime in recent years in order to improve IP protection, create public awareness and develop IP rights enforcement, including:
More recent developments include:
These are some of the bold steps that have been taken towards the protection, promotion and enforcement of IP rights in Pakistan. The Intellectual Property Organisation closely collaborates with the Federal Board of Revenue and Customs to control the movement of infringing or counterfeit products at Pakistan's borders. The Competition Commission has also been active in pursuing IP infringement cases under the Competition Act 2010 and has handed down a number of decisions concerning IP infringement (eg, deceptive marketing practices) in Pakistan.
IP enforcement agencies recently held a meeting at the Intellectual Property Organisation that was chaired by its director general and attended by its:
The meeting was also attended by senior officers from Customs, the Federal Investigation Agency, the Electronic Media Regulatory Authority, the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan and Islamabad Capital Territory Police.
The meeting discussed how to improve Pakistan's international IP image and saw the authorities adopt certain proactive approaches. In this regard, the enforcement agencies unanimously resolved to improve Pakistan's IP image through the introduction of the following steps in IP enforcement.
Improving coordination between different government organisations and providing timely IP reports to Pakistan's missions abroad would reveal Pakistan's true IP image and avoid any incorrect indications thereof. Further, such reports will allow Pakistan to keep up to date with progress in the protection of IP rights and provide a basis for comparison with other international standards. Such a process is likely to be implemented successfully and should yield impressive results and improve the protection of IP rights, as well as Pakistan's image on an international stage.
For further information on this topic please contact Seema S Mansoor at Vellani & Vellani by telephone (+92 21 3580 1000) or email (seema.mansoor@vellani.com). The Vellani & Vellani website can be accessed at www.vellani.com.
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