In a move to protect manufacturers' copyrights in the Rawalpindi Division, the federal government has established a dedicated "Intellectual Property Tribunal" (IPT).
According to a notification, District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Asghar Khan has been appointed to preside over this new tribunal. Notably, this marks the third IPT court in Pakistan, with the first two courts already operational in Lahore and Islamabad.
Future plans include the establishment of IPT courts in Karachi and Faisalabad during the second phase.
The primary objective of the IPT is to address cases involving copyright violations of various goods, including medicines, food products, and consumer items of all kinds.
Stringent regulations have been put in place to ensure compliance with copyright protection.
This initiative has received widespread support from pharmaceutical companies, industrial unit associations, and the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce, and Industry. These stakeholders believe that the IPT court will facilitate the swift resolution of copyright infringement cases.
The successful implementation of similar courts in Islamabad and Lahore has provided a strong precedent for the efficacy of this measure.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 30th, 2023.
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