Copyright protection in Pakistan
Encyclopedia
Copyright protection in Pakistan is a major economic, political and diplomatic issue.
In a country like Pakistan
where laws are very difficult to implement, copyright infringement
has always been a concern, and the country has been on the Special 301 Watch List
since 1989.
law with amendments in 1992. However, no significant progress against pervasive copyright piracy was made until 1994, when raids against video piracy began. The International Intellectual Property Alliance
recommended last year that Pakistan remain on the Watch List, and USTR agreed, while noting "greater efforts to combat copyright piracy".
Sound Recordings and
Musical Compositions: $ 5.0 million
Computer Programs:
Business Software: N/A
Entertainment Software: N/A
Books: $30.0 million
TOTAL LOSSES $3.0+ million
In a country like Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
where laws are very difficult to implement, copyright infringement
Copyright infringement
Copyright infringement is the unauthorized or prohibited use of works under copyright, infringing the copyright holder's exclusive rights, such as the right to reproduce or perform the copyrighted work, or to make derivative works.- "Piracy" :...
has always been a concern, and the country has been on the Special 301 Watch List
Office of the United States Trade Representative
The Office of the United States Trade Representative is the United States government agency responsible for developing and recommending United States trade policy to the president of the United States, conducting trade negotiations at bilateral and multilateral levels, and coordinating trade...
since 1989.
Legislative response
Pakistan updated its copyrightCopyright
Copyright is a legal concept, enacted by most governments, giving the creator of an original work exclusive rights to it, usually for a limited time...
law with amendments in 1992. However, no significant progress against pervasive copyright piracy was made until 1994, when raids against video piracy began. The International Intellectual Property Alliance
International Intellectual Property Alliance
The International Intellectual Property Alliance , formed in 1984, is a private sector coalition of seven trade associations representing U.S...
recommended last year that Pakistan remain on the Watch List, and USTR agreed, while noting "greater efforts to combat copyright piracy".
Copyright on Garments
Garments also, do not seem to have stayed out of it all. Owners of a prominent garment shop said that whatever the laws may be, no such restrictions can be seen on the garment industry. Also a person who creates something cannot claim his or her property as any garment with minor changes can be said to have evolved into some new garment. This also provides variety, thus a choice to select from different garments. Some are of the opinion that there should be copyright and strict laws of it because it provides identity and security as well as signifies a person’s creative work. Quality will be recognized and respected and this how original makers in the field will have rewards.Loss estimates due to "piracy"
Motion Pictures: $10 millionSound Recordings and
Musical Compositions: $ 5.0 million
Computer Programs:
Business Software: N/A
Entertainment Software: N/A
Books: $30.0 million
TOTAL LOSSES $3.0+ million
See also
- Federal Investigation AgencyFederal Investigation AgencyThe Federal Investigation Agency is an agency of Pakistan, under the Ministry of Interior, that serves as a federal criminal investigative body with one of the Directorate dealing as Pakistani body of Interpol. It has a wide role in anti-terrorism, anti-fascism, anti-corruption, human smuggling...
- Rainbow Centre KarachiRainbow Centre KarachiThe Rainbow Centre is a building in Karachi, adjacent to the Empress Market, that is famous as the hub of video entertainment in Pakistan and the country's video piracy industry...
- a market building famous for video piracy - List of parties to international copyright treaties