Copyright

Piracy is a really huge problem in Pakistan, again we have a detailed ordinance for copy rights which was amended in 2000 when Pakistan became member of WTO and erne Convention on copyrights and the World Intellectual Property Rights Organization (WIPO), but is not a member of Paris Convention for protection of intellectual property.

Again like PEMRA ordinance we see major issue is implementation laws and regulations in Pakistan as few rupee bills can change the rules.

Level of Piracy during Post UR Period:

Comparison with other Regional Countries
Pakistan China India
Industry 2000 1995 2000 1995 2000 1995
Motion Pictures 60% 100% 90% 100% 60% 99%
Sound Recordings/
Musical Compositions 90% 94% 85% 54% 40%30%
Business Software
Applications 84% 92% 93% 96% 63% 78%
Entertainment Software NA 90% 99% 99% 80% 76%
Books 45 NA NA NA NA NA

Source: International Intellectual Property Rights Association’s various Special 301 Reports
on Pakistan, China, and India at http//www.iipa.com

The US special 301 Report 2001, regarding Pakistan is not satisfied with the enforcement measures taken by Pakistan during 2000, to curb the growing optical media piracy. While the domestic legitimate demand for CDs is very limited in Pakistan, there are optical media plants with a large installed capacity for exports. The rise of pirate production in Pakistan has decreased imported or smuggled pirate optical discs from countries like China and Malaysia in 2000, as compared with 1999. As a result of this increase in optical media pirate production and the pirate import of optical media in 1999 and 2000, there has understandably been a sharp rise in the sale and availability of all kinds of optical media pirate copies. Recent raids indicate the scope of the problem. In 2000, the police conducted 20 raids against resellers, and two others against pirate end-users (businesses engaged in the unauthorized use of software). No fines or penalties were meted out as a result of these actions. While similar activities were carried out in 1998 and 1999, the trivial fines imposed in those cases made the enforcement efforts ineffective and non-deterrent. Similarly, the EU is not satisfied with the enforcement of IPRs in Pakistan and it is difficult for its companies to obtain patents and trademarks registration for their products. The right of the patentee is not adequately protected in the Pakistani law, with the result that the infringer continues to freely manufacture counterfeit products.

Source: http://www.issi.org.pk/ss_Detail.php?dataId=178

Regards,

Muhammad Raheel