IPR infringement and sale of counterfeit products

National kitty bearing huge revenue loss

* Strict enforcement of IPR needed for growth of business and foreign
direct investment

Staff Report

KARACHI: Estimated revenue loss to the national exchequer due to Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) infringement and sale of counterfeit products is Rs 21 billion, as per a survey conducted in 2008 – these losses may have increased since then.

Apart from financial losses, sub-standard counterfeited products, in the food and pharmaceutical sector, can be extremely hazardous and lethal for all consumers, especially for medical patients.

In order to address issues on IPR and its adverse effects, the Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OICCI), in collaboration with the Sindh Judicial Academy (SJA) organised a seminar on the subject of IPR for the Sindh High Court (SHC) judges, district and session judges, as well as additional district and session judges on April 2, 2012. Honourable Chief Justice of the SHC, Justice Mushir Alam, was the chief guest on this occasion.

The Sindh Chief Justice Mushir Alam, in his address, presented a comprehensive legal position of IPR in Pakistan and how it is affected by international commitments. Sindh chief justice assured his full support to OICCI in promoting proactive protection of IPR in Pakistan. Justice Alam emphasised that such seminars will help raise awareness and importance of IPR in the country. He said that there is need to help people realise the consequences of IPR violations, which cause great damage to goodwill, reputation and credibility of the country and ultimately affect new investment opportunities in the country. The chief justice said that the judiciary is fully aware that the punishments for IPR infringements need to be reviewed, made stricter and should be commensurate with the damage such acts cause to the community and the country.

OICCI President Humayun Bashir speaking on the subject said that effective enforcement of IPR has always been a fundamental part on OICCI’s agenda and the chamber has actively lobbied for creating awareness and promoting an IPR friendly environment in the country. He urged the government to pass the Intellectual Property Organisation of Pakistan Ordinance, 2011 on priority, strengthen the IPO Policy Board by giving representation to private sector bodies and create a system to improve enhanced awareness and strict enforcement of IPR laws with adequate penalties for delinquents.

Sindh Judicial Academy Director General Justice Saleem Akhtar appreciated OICCI for showing their keen interest in sensitising such an important issue of intellectual property to all tier of our judiciary, by using the platform of Sindh Judicial Academy.

This subject is an ever-evolving one and needs continuous sensitisation, awareness, teaching, training and research in order to fulfil the basic needs and appetite of all the stakeholders.

Hasan Irfan Khan, an eminent lawyer, and an expert on IPR matters, gave an exhaustive presentation on the legal aspect of IPR in Pakistan as well as presenting many practical examples of IPR infringements in several sectors of trade and industry in Pakistan. Khan emphasised for an urgent need to beef up the existing laws and recommended harsher punishment for those found to be indulging in the abuse of trademarks, copyrights and other IP infringement. He also drew attention of the judges present in the seminar about the social cost of IPR violations to consumers, especially in case of medicine and health care products besides inflicting financial loss to the national exchequer.

The OICCI represents 189 foreign companies operating business in Pakistan, many of whom began operations in Pakistan over 60 years ago. OICCI is the oldest trade body in the country and region, which was established 150 years ago. Hundred out of 189 OICCI members collectively contributed over Rs 300 billion to the national exchequer in 2010. OICCI also plays an active role in terms of representation and advocacy to the government, various regulatory bodies, and policy makers.

Home | Business