Pakistan Intellectual Property Law

(1) Laws and Regulations on Intellectual Property Protection

Before 2005, piracy and infringing products were rampant in Pakistan, making it one of the world’s major One of the countries exporting pirated products. In 2005, the Pakistani government established the Intellectual Property Organization (PIPRO), which is personally led by the Prime Minister. The Brazilian Intellectual Property Organization has strengthened legislation and law enforcement, and the intellectual property protection situation has been greatly improved. Pakistan’s intellectual property legislative system includes trademark law, patent law, design law, copyright law, and relevant implementation rules of the above laws. For specific regulations, please visit the website of Pakistan Intellectual Property Organization: www.ipo.gov.pk.

The "Trademark Law 2001" stipulates that the validity period of trademark registration is 10 years, calculated from the date of application. After expiration, it can be renewed for 10 years. If the registered trademark is not used for five consecutive years, it will be revoked.

The "Patent Law 2000" stipulates that the protection period of patent rights is 20 years, calculated from the date of application.

The "Design Law 2000" stipulates that the validity period of design registration is 10 years, calculated from the date of application. After expiration, it can be renewed for 10 years, and thereafter for another 10 years.

The "Copyright Act 1962" stipulates that the scope of protection includes literary works, music, drama, folk arts, fine arts, architectural works, sculptures, photographic works, film works, graphic works, model works, and computer software. The protection period of relevant copyrights is usually the life of the author and 50 years after his death.

(2) Relevant penalties for intellectual property infringement

Trademarks: Anyone who illegally uses a registered trademark or provides forged documents and materials for registration shall be punished by a penalty of not less than 3 months and not less than 2 years. The person who illegally uses a registered trademark twice shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not less than six months and not more than three years, and shall also be fined or fined not less than 100,000 rupees; whoever passes off an unregistered trademark as a person shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not less than six months but not more than three years. Anyone who registers a trademark shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not less than one month but not more than half a year, and shall also be fined or fined 20,000 rupees alone.

Anyone who provides forged documents and materials for patent registration, or whose patent involves military secrets, or who applies for a patent abroad without permission from the government of his country, shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not more than 2 years, and concurrently or separately to 2 years. A fine of not more than 10,000 rupees; for those who report false information, a fine of not more than 5,000 rupees; for unregistered patent agents, a fine of 25,000 rupees for the first time and 100,000 rupees for each subsequent time; for those who pass off non-patented products as patented products , a fine of not more than 5,000 rupees shall be imposed.

Whoever illegally uses a registered design, or provides forged documents and materials for registration, shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not more than 2 years, and shall also be fined or fined not more than 20,000 rupees; those who pass off non-registered designs as If a design is registered, a fine of Rs 1,000 will be imposed.

Whoever uses copyrighted works by adapting, translating, etc. without the permission of the copyright owner, or produces or sells pirated audio and video products, shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not more than 3 years, and shall also be fined or fined 100,000 rupees; Anyone who provides false materials to register a copyright, or produces or sells works that counterfeit the signature of others, shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not more than 2 years, and shall be fined 100,000 rupees or only.

(3) Application procedures

1. Apply for a patent

The Pakistan Intellectual Property Organization (PIPRO) Patent Office is the competent department for accepting patent applications in Pakistan.

The application documents required to register a Pakistani patent mainly include: application letter, power of attorney (if applying through an agent), patent specification, and payment of patent application fees.

The application procedure includes: 1. Submit application; 2. Review and approval; 3. If the applicant fails to pass the review, the applicant will be required to supplement or modify the materials; if the applicant passes the review, an acceptance notice will be published in the official gazette; 4. Issue certificate.

2. Registered trademark

Application documents required to register a Pakistani trademark: trademark application, trademark drawing, power of attorney (if applying through an agent), trademark registration application fee (1,000 rupees) , no cash accepted).

To apply for a domestic trademark in Pakistan, you should go to the "Pakistan Intellectual Property Organization Trademark Registration Office", which is located in Karachi and has a representative office in Lahore. Foreign companies that are not registered in Pakistan must apply through a local trademark registration agent.

To apply for international trademark protection, you can apply to the International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in Geneva, Switzerland, through the Pakistan Trademark Registration Office.