IPO launches digital transformation drive

DG says trademark, copyright & patent services will be fully digitalised in six months

KARACHI:

Intellectual Property Organisation of Pakistan Director General Noman Aslam has said that the IPO Pakistan has launched an aggressive six-month digital transformation strategy aimed at revolutionising the intellectual property ecosystem through automation, artificial intelligence and online complaint management to make trademark, copyright and patent services faster, transparent and business friendly.

Speaking during his visit to the Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI) on Wednesday, Aslam said the IPO was shifting from conventional paperwork-based procedures towards a modern digital framework to reduce delays, improve examination quality and minimise litigation arising from trademark disputes and registration irregularities.

IPO mainly acts as a facilitating and coordinating institution while complaints relating to infringement, piracy, counterfeiting and unauthorised use are referred to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), police or Pakistan Customs depending on the nature of violation. Customs handles piracy and border-related infringements, FIA deals with copyright and related matters, whereas the police tackle trademark and market-level violations.

Highlighting the ongoing reforms, he informed businessmen that an online complaint management system had been launched and communicated to 15 major chambers of commerce across Pakistan. The portal enables businesses to electronically lodge complaints and monitor cases online without visiting IPO offices. Chambers have also been given representation in the IPO enforcement committees.

Responding to concerns over delays and limited workforce, he said fresh recruitments made last year had helped reduce backlog, however, the IPO was still not satisfied with the pace of work, which prompted the organisation to aggressively adopt technology and AI-based modernisation.