The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and Intellectual Property Organisation of Pakistan (IPOP) will sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Tuesday (October 27) for data sharing between the two organizations and protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights. In this regard, the MoU will be signed between the two organizations at the National Tariff Commission (NTC).
Details revealed that the MOU is not limited to sharing of data between two organizations but it will also open doors for creating awareness and imparting training about intellectual property issues and taking such other actions as may be necessary for the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights; Coordinating with trade associations and other related organizations or fora for awareness of intellectual property rights; and mutual facilitation in initiating and conducting inquiries, investigations and proceedings related to IPR offences.
Directorate General of IPR Enforcement (Pakistan Customs) has been created for enforcement of IPR laws of Pakistan especially at the import and export stage. It will also be the centralized contact office of FBR for IPR related national and international organizations and trade & industry. The Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) is one of the three pillars of WTO and include Copyright, Industrial designs & IC layouts, Trade Marks, Patents, Geographical indications, etc. The government has already taken the essential step of combining the IPR related work in different ministries into one organization called Intellectual Property Organization of Pakistan (IPOP) with offices in Islamabad and Lahore. However, there is need for active collaboration and training and the Directorate General of IPR Enforcement will provide necessary help in all facets to the public, IPOP and the Ministries.