US offers support to update Pak IP regulations

Intellectual Property Counsellor for South Asia discusses issues with IPO-Pakistan

ISLAMABAD:

In a bid to promote intellectual property rights in Pakistan, the Intellectual Property Organisation of Pakistan (IPO-Pakistan) and the US Intellectual Property Counsellor for South Asia reaffirmed their commitment on Wednesday to improving the intellectual properties policies, laws and regulations.

The issue was discussed during a visit by the US delegation to IPO-Pakistan headquarters. Headed by US IP Counsellor for South Asia John Cabecca, the delegation consisted of Dong Eun, Zach Bailey and Hamza Khan, according to a press release.

The Pakistani side was led by IPO Chairperson Farukh Amil and included Director General Shazia Adnan, and senior management of IPO-Pakistan. On the occasion Amil briefed the US delegation about the measures taken by the IPO-Pakistan for promoting IPRs.

“The IPO-Pakistan believes that patents, trademarks and copyrights have an important role in economic growth and development. It has already taken a number of initiatives to improve the IPR regime in the country,” he said. He added that two new IP tribunals had been established in Quetta and Rawalpindi, while approval for two more IP tribunals had been granted.

Read Pindi gets Intellectual Property Tribunal

“The IPO-Pakistan would like to benefit from the US experience and expertise in the IP,” he said. Shazia Adnan said that the IPO-Pakistan's accession to the Marrakesh Treaty was also in the final stage and would be signed by the president soon. She added that amendments to the Copyright Bill, 2023 would soon be forwarded to the parliament for their final approval.

Speaking on the occasion Cabecca said that they were working for the capacity-building of IP-related experts in the South Asia. He expressed satisfaction with the line of direction adopted by the IPO-Pakistan. He pledged to provide capacity building training and technical assistance to Pakistan.

Cabecca also highlighted the matters related to protection and enforcement of IP rights and said that he aimed to advocate for effective IP policies and conducting public awareness programmes to support a strong and vibrant IP system in the country.