FOUR-DAY INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR ON ENFORCEMENT
OF IPRs BEGINS TODAY
In the knowledge driven new economy, governments would need to
play an increasingly facilitative role for the Intellectual Property
Rights (IPRs) promotion and protection. Competence building and
modernisation in terms of approach and content would have to precede
it. Stating this in the inaugural address of Shri V. Govindarajan,
Secretary (Industrial Policy & Promotion), which was read
out by Shri A.E. Ahmed, Joint Secretary (IPP) on the occasion
of an International Seminar on "Enforcement of Intellectual
Property Rights (IPRs)", it was stressed that continuity
of socio-economic growth and industrial competitiveness depends
upon high level of IP protection and enforcement. Therefore, the
most important contribution governments can make is to provide
speedy and cheap methods for implementing IPRs, he added. Dr.
S. Narayan, Secretary, Department of Revenue and Mr. Mpazi Sinjela,
Director, World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) Academy,
were present in ! the Seminar, which was jointly organised by
the Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion, Ministry
of Commerce & Industry and WIPO. The 4-day (9-12 July) Seminar
is being attended by about 125 participants from 16 countries.
Shri Govindarajan informed the participants that India has recently
put up in place a new legislative framework for all aspects of
IP and has initiated a major revamp of its administrative structure
to ensure effective and efficient enforcement of IP laws. He termed
the conclusion of Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual
Property Rights (TRIPs) a significant milestone and said that
it not only strengthens IPR protection worldwide but also harmonises
the standards of protection across developed, developing and least
developed countries.
Mr. Sinjela mentioned about the need to include IP protection
as a major infrastructure in national development. He said the
TRIPs Agreement is an important linkage between international
trade and IPRs. The WIPO Director emphasised that protection of
IP provides major boost to national creativity and inventiveness.
The objective of the 4-day programme is to provide senior enforcement
officials with information on the role of intellectual property
as a tool for development, and to impart appropriate knowledge
and practical skills in the effective enforcement of IPRs. The
Seminar will touch upon the subjects of efficient enforcement
of IPRs; acts of IPRs infringement; civil and criminal procedures
and remedies; enforcing IPRs at the border: the role of customs;
enforcement of IPRs in the market place – the role of the police
and other enforcement agencies; role of right holders in the enforcement
of IPRs and enforcement of IPRs in developing countries.
Senior representatives from several countries such as US, China,
Germany, South Africa and representatives from police, customs,
music industry, publishing industry, teaching and training institutions
etc., are making presentations in order to share experiences and
understand the implications of the emerging issues in the context
of effective enforcement of IPRs with a view to meeting the challenges
and developing a vision for the future.
