With the dawn of technology and the number of IT Exports Pakistan has, it is arguably the most commonly used law today as we are surrounded by it every day! The Computer/Phone/Tablet that you are using to read this webpage on is protected by many patents and software copyrights, and we are surrounded by displays of trademarks and copyrighted works of art everywhere. Intellectual Property (or IP) is a non-tangible property that either originates from/is identified as/ whose values are based on an idea (or ideas).
IP must have an element of novelty, and can not be generally known in the society where the Intellectual Property is claimed; it must be unique and original. IP laws ultimately serve one purpose; to promote science, knowledge, and creativity by protecting the owners of IP and giving them rights to their property, whilst ensuring society (overall) benefits fairly from their ideas.
IP Laws in Pakistan
The Laws that cover Intellectual Property in Pakistan include (but are not limited to):-
- Intellectual Property Organization of Pakistan Act, 2012
- Trademark Ordinance, 2001
- The Trademark Rules, 2004
- The Patents Ordinance, 2000
- The Patents Rules, 2003
- The Copyright Ordinance, 1962
- The Copyright Rules, 1967
- The Electronic Transactions Ordinance, 2002
- The Registered Designs Ordinance, 2000
- The Registered Layout-Designs of Integrated Circuits Ordinance, 2000
- The Merchandise Marks Act, 1889
Pakistan is also a member of the Berne Convention and is a signed member state in 3 international copyright agreements:-
- Universal Copyright Convention (Geneva)
- Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic work
- Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights
Registration and Protection of Intellectual Property Laws in Pakistan
Despite popular belief, Pakistan is progressing to ensure that Authors, Inventors, and Creators of IP are able to safeguard their work. To ensure that they are able to safeguard their work there are a few prerequisites that must be met, depending on the type of IP that it is.
The kinds of Intellectual Property in Pakistan
IP in Pakistan can be categorized into 3 Major categories, each with their respective sub-categories
- Patents
- Design Patents
- Utility Patents
- Plant Patents
- Trade Secrets
- Copyright
- Works Made for Hire
- Right to Publicity
- Right to Fair Use
- Trademarks
- Logos
- Tag Lines
Taking Action against IP Infringement
Enforcement of IP rights (including trademarks, copyrights, and patents) may be necessary throughout your course of business. Through our platform, we can offer comprehensive intellectual property enforcement services to help our clients protect their valuable IP assets.
Our team of experienced IP lawyers has a deep understanding of the laws and legislations encompassing intellectual property rights in Pakistan. We work closely with Law Enforcement Agencies and IP Offices to minimize and identify potential infringements and develop effective strategies to enforce IP owners’ rights.
Speak to us today about your IP matter
To speak to one of our Corporate Lawyers who specialize in IP you can fill out the form below or call us at 0308 5510031 (WhatsApp 0092 308 5510031) and request a meeting with our IP expert to discuss your matter.