Pemra, IPO pledge to curb copyright violations

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) and Intellectual Property Organisation (IPO) Wednesday pledged to jointly curb the menace of copy rights violations in music film and dramas.
During one day seminar on intellectual property rights and enforcement of copyright laws, both pledged to increase bilateral coordination for strengthening each other in discharging regulatory duties and seeking support of other relevant organisations like Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Police, Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and Customs Intelligence whenever needed.
The seminar was organised by Pemra in collaboration with intellectual Property Organisation (IPO). The seminar was attended by stakeholders from TV, FM Radio, Cable TV, Mobile TV, Audio content providers and music industry.
Pemra acting Chairman Kamaluddin Tippu in his welcome address shed light on various perspectives and aspects of copy rights laws violations and relevant provisions available in Pemra laws dealing with copy rights.
Speakers from IPO Muhammad Ismail and Ms Nadia Shah gave overview of IPO, its functioning, powers and relevant laws available to enforce copy rights laws in Pakistan.
The speakers said how copy rights violations in Asian countries did not get the attention at the national level due to more engaging issues in hand.
The industry especially IT, film, drama and music have been taking active interest in stemming the rot and often take corrective actions by conducting raids with the help of the police and the authorities concerned like IPO, Pemra etc. However, convictions are a few and the penalties are not harsh enough to act as a deterrent.
The participants of the seminar were briefed about various forms of intellectual property rights, patent industrial design, trademarks and various forms of piracy including video piracy, cable piracy and DVD, CD piracy etc. IPO also pledged to support Pemra in its fight against the illegal Indian DTH which is causing a huge monetary loss to the national exchequer.
The speakers, however, agreed that efforts to stop piracy was a continuous and ongoing battle protecting intellectual property rights required using several approaches while adjusting to a market place with a never-ending appetite for new content.
Even though the general public may think of piracy as a victimless crime as this form of copy rights infringement damages the creative professionals’ ability to earn a living from his work. It was agreed that public education campaigns would be launched as first line in the defence against piracy.
Concluding the workshop, Pemra acting Chairman Kamal uddin Tipu thanked all the participants and presented souvenirs to the speakers.