OICCI, Sindh Judicial Academy hold seminar on IPR

In order to address issues on Intellectual Proper Rights (IPR) and its adverse effects, the Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce & Industry (OICCI), in collaboration with the Sindh Judicial Academy (SJA) organised a seminar on the subject of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) for the Sindh High Court judges, District and Session judges, as well as Additional District and Session judges on April 02, 2012. Honourable Chief Justice of the Sindh High Court, Justice Mushir Alam, was the chief guest on this occasion.
Estimated revenue loss to the national exchequer due to IPR infringement and sale of counterfeit products was 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. The Chief Justice of Sindh, Justice Mushir Alam, in his address, presented a comprehensive legal position of IPR in Pakistan and how it is affected by international commitments. He assured his full support to OICCI in promoting proactive protection of intellectual property rights in Pakistan.
Justice Mushir Alam emphasised that such seminars will help raise awareness and importance of the 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. Humayun Bashir, President, OICCI speaking on the subject said that effective enforcement of intellectual property rights 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 (IPOP) Ordinance, 2011 on priority, strengthen the IPOP 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.
Justice Saleem Akhtar, Director General, Sindh Judicial Academy 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 need and appetite of all the stake holders.
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. Hasan Irfan 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 trade marks, copyrights and other intellectual property 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.-PR