RAWALPINDI: The Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) in collaboration with Small Medium Enterprises Development Authority (Smeda) organised an awareness session on intellectual property rights (IPRs) including trademarks, patents, industrial designs and copyrights for business community.

Representatives from Intellectual Property Organisation (IPO-Pakistan) Umme Salma and Saifullah Khan said the protection of intellectual property rights brought many benefits to the economy. A strong enforcement of IPRs will ensure protection of consumers & producers` rights and this also ensured better economic growth & competitiveness.

Ume Salma said IPOPakistan was taking many initiatives to ensure better protection of IPRs and was working on developing a web portal to enable businessmen and other stakeholders to file applications online for registration of trademarks, patents and copyrights.

At this occasion, a detailed presentation was given about patents, trademarks, industrial designs, copyrights, geographical indicators, etc., to the business community.

Raja Amer Iqbal, the RCCI president, said better understanding of various components of intellectual property rights and using them effectively has become very important for Pakistani entrepreneurs to compete with the modern dynamics of the economy.

He said documentation of economy was vital for the economic development. He urged government especially IPO-Pakistan to introduce amendments to laws so that registration of trade marl< can be made hassle free.

He said business entities should introduce new products and services and they needed an efficient and effective intellectual property system for protection of patents, trademarks and manufacturing secrets.

He suggested launching a web portal and a mobile application for quick search for existing trade marks.

Senior Vice President Rashid Walen, Vice President Malik Asim, members of the executive committee, regional manager Smeda Mohammad Asghar and a large number of traders attended the seminar.