KARACHI: Federal Board of Revenue has decided to introduce new intellectual property rights rules in order to curb trade of counterfeit products in the country.
According to an FBR official, the country’s top revenue authority will notify the ‘Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights (Import and Export Goods) Enforcement Rules’ in June 2016.
He said that the rules will apply to goods meant for import or export to and from Pakistan, which infringe the intellectual property rights registered or protected in Pakistan relating to trademarks, copyrights, patents, industrial designs and lay-out designs of integrated circuits.
The new rules said the Directorate General of IPR will be the custodian of rights, and be authorised to suspend clearance of any import or export consignment on the basis of complaint lodged by a rights-holder regarding infringement of rights.
Under the new rules, if goods, being imported or exported, are found infringing IPR rights, they will be seized and the accused will face adjudication proceedings.
