THE Commerce Division of the Ministry of Commerce and Textiles has been frequently revising fees/charges related to applications for the filing of trade marks, patents and copyrights. The Intellectual Property Organisation (IPO) of Pakistan was established as an autonomous body in 2005 with the aim of strengthening intellectual property rights (IPRs) in the country through a unified and integrated management system.

However, the organisation has been losing its core focus of facilitating and safeguarding businesses, and, instead, becoming a business in its own right.

While revenue generation is essential for the institution to operate and keep abreast of the latest global intellectual property right practices, it is the blatant profiteering that is a matter of grave concern.

Over the years, international and local trademark, patent and copyright registrations have increased manifold across the country. The main function of IPO Pakistan should continue to be about the provision of an efficient and transparent platform that may boost investor confidence in order to contribute towards a higher influx of both foreign as well as local investment.

However, the state of affairs is a rather sorry one. From several vacant offices to lack of both procurement and employment of technology as well as outdated processes and procedures, there are many elements that are affecting IPO`s functionality that was expected at the time of IPO Pakistan`s establishment.

Inadequate allocation of funds and resourceshasresultedinthousandsof cases pending since as far back as 1989, and the respective registries are grossly understaffed after a lot of qualified employees retired over the years.

The increasing quantum of work that also involves creating awareness among the masses means the registries not only require timely replacements of the retired staff, but are also in dire need of additionalpersonnelso that they areable to cope efficiently with the requirements that are ever-growing.

There is a requirement of a minimum of five hearing officers, for there is only one registrar present and that leads to delays.

There is a dearth of examination officers which means unwarranted litigation due to poor examination. The purity of register has literally collapsed since the applications are not vetted thoroughly, inviting unnecessary objections and putting extra burden on registered owners.

Earlier, only 34 classifications existed.

However, with the inclusion of 11 additional classifications in the services sector within the ambit of trademark classifications, the process has only become more comprehensive, requiring more specialised resources as well as tools.

The registries are still operating in the dated ways of maintaining records and working on physical files. They are in desperate need of technology, software and automation. The IPO offices, on the other hand, seem to be cut from a different cloth altogether.

The registries, like any such office anywhere in the world, are facilitators of the business community. That is the sole purpose of the said office. If by any chance, it starts making good money, it should redirect that money into service delivery. Today, the IPO is in desperate need of investment; in no way one can say that the office is functioning in a satisfactory manner. The revenues having been received from the registries over the last 15 years are nowhere to be seen.

The latest notification about yet another upward revision of fees/charges seems like an arbitrary action without any foreseeable benefits for the businesses.

Karimullah Adeni Karachi