Issue No. 4 Oct-Dec, 2006

Amar NaseerAsmat SaleemRonald InayatDr. Shahzad Saleem

The Government of Pakistan is cognizant of the need for the protection of Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) and it considers their infringement as one of the major issues confronting the contemporary global environment. Considering this issue as a serious crime, we are not only enacting appropriate laws but also implementing them. We are fully aware of the importance of eliminating such activities in Pakistan and understand the need to create mass awareness about issues relating to IPRs.

As an active member of WTO, Pakistan is committed to the implementation of international laws and standards of trade and commerce. As a result of sustained economic reforms and policies, there has been an exponential economic growth in Pakistan in the last few years and we now need an increased inflow of FDI to sustain the level of growth. We understand that ineffective protection of IPRs discourages the investors to invest in any country and we are aware of such sensitivities. Realising the importance of these issues, the Government has established the Intellectual Property Rights Organisation (IPO) of Pakistan as an autonomous regulatory body. The IPO is working hard for the implementation of an effective mechanism for the protection of IPRs.

Pakistan is a member of various multilateral arrangements for the protection and implementation of IPRs, like Paris Convention, Berne Convention and TRIPS Agreement. We have already upgraded our patent, trademark and copyright laws, as per international standards. Consequently, we have been successful in controlling the issue of counterfeiting, trademark and copyright piracy. As a result of our efforts, foreign investors are now confidently investing in Pakistan. These efforts of the government will encourage R&D in our industry, and also enable our entrepreneurs to have the ownership of patents and copyright works in abundance.

Before concluding, I would like to reiterate that our Ministry firmly subscribes to the belief that protection of IP laws is a sine qua non for strong economic growth and investor friendly environment. Our resolve is complete and absolutely unshakeable and we shall keep progressing positively on these issues

ACIF is a unique industrial alliance in Pakistan, striving to raise awareness on protection of IPRs in order to create level playing field for legitimate industry and better protection of the rights of consumers. The Forum will make all possible efforts to convince the stakeholders, including the concerned government quarters, to protect IPRs in all forms in the country

Message from Mr. Humayun Akhtar Khan Minister for Commerce, Government of Pakistan

In this issueEditor`s Note.............................2

Press Picks................................2

Expert’s Opinion.......................3

Marke t Watch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

ACIF’s Even t s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

To The Point...................6

Industry Fights Back..................7

Previous Issues/Events............8

National FoodsNovartisSystematic Education (Kaplan)Oxford University PressPakistan State OilPakistan Tobacco CompanyPepsi Cola International

Pharma Pakistan Efroze Chemical IndustriesEnglish Biscuit ManufacturersHilal ConfectioneryICI PakistanJohnson & JohnsonMuzic UnlimitedNestle Pakistan

Philips Electrical IndustriesProcter & Gamble PakistanRafhan Best FoodsReckitt Benckiser PakistanTapal TeaUnilever Pakistan

Press Picks

Piracy and Counterfeiting have assumed monstrous dimensions in countries with weak regulatory and enforcement mechanism, making it difficult for the consumers to get genuine products. Resultantly, while buying medicines, cigarettes, packed food, cooking oils, beverages, bottled water, or personal care products one is not sure about the genuineness of the product. While the pirates, fixers and counterfeiters make quick bucks through their illicit activities, the unchecked sale of counterfeit, pirated and unregistered products inflict heavy losses upon the consumers. A recent study revealed that more than half of the consumer products available in the market are either sub-standard or spurious. The losses inflicted on legitimate industry and exchequer run in billions of rupees.

When a counterfeit and unregistered product is taken, it is, at best ineffective and, at worst, as in the case of drugs, dangerous to the extent of being fatal. Unfortunately, despite the associated risks, piracy and counterfeiting has become a multi-billion dollar trade run by well-organised groups. Whatever they market invariably carries the semblance of the original product, thereby increasing the chances of their purchase and the associated risks involved in their use.

Further, the illicit practice hampers the economic development of societies by discouraging new inventions/creations and legitimate investment, while depriving the affected nations of much needed new job opportunities and income from duties and taxes. Thus, the illicit trade in pirated and counterfeit products has become instrumental in aggravating the economic deprivation and ever expanding poverty of nations afflicted by the vice.

In Pakistan, respect for IP rights is almost non-existent. Resultantly, creative minds do not truly benefit from what they create. Their works are widely copied and pirated, bringing them meager returns. Given the situation, the Federal Government established the Intellectual Property Organisation, in 2004, to ensure the protection of IP rights in the country.

Another equally commendable step pertains to the constitution of a Consumer Rights Council (CRC) by the Government of Sindh, in September, 2005 to safeguard the rights of the consumers. A brainchild of Governor Sindh Dr. Ishratul Ibad, the nascent voluntary body has started its work, making a beginning with the checking of prices of essential items. Acting as a pressure group comprising of people from practically every walk of life, CRC extends support to law enforcement agencies by pointing out the culprits and breaking their networks. The lead taken by Sindh in forming CRC is a laudable step worth emulating by other provinces. The province of Punjab recently followed by forming a consumer protection body of its own.

If all stakeholders in the society join hands and work together in the right earnest, we can arrest the galloping rise in the trade in spurious products

GERMANY SEIZES A MILLION KNOCKOFF NIKES

German customs seized the world's largest haul of counterfeit goods, including nearly one million pairs of knockoff Nike sneakers at the northern port of Hamburg. The goods, loaded in 117 shipping containers, also included 105,000 pairs of fake Adidas and Puma sports shoes and 76,760 knockoff watches and 1,450 toys. The equivalent amount of genuine branded goods would be about $490 million. The containers were shipped to Hamburg from Asia and were destined for recipients at addresses, some of them fictitious, in Italy, Australia and Hungary

PRESSURE FOR CD PIRATES RELEASE

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), during a raid in Raja Bazaar, Rawalpindi, arrested five businessmen for selling pirated CDs and DVDs in violation of the IPR laws. However, FIA is reportedly under pressure from some influential quarters to secure release of their near ones. Though the Agency is resisting the pressure, it is feared that it would not be able to do so for long. This might not be the first case where authorities would face pressure from certain quarters to favour the culprits. However, across-the-board implementation of IP laws is a pre-requisite to safeguard counterfeiting of genuine brands

FAKE/EXPIRED PESTICIDES SEIZED

Police arrested 17 employees of a cotton factory in Multan and seized 200,000 litres of fake and expired pesticides, worth Rs. 500 million, on October 1. The employees were replacing old stickers from the bottles containing expired pesticides and fertilizers

HELD FOR SELLING PIRATED CDs

Karachi Police confiscated 760 pirated CDs and arrested two dealers on charges of selling unlicensed software. Two PCs loaded with unlicensed computer programmes, were also seized

LAW TO PROTECT IPRs

Pakistan has decided to enforce legislation for protecting non-conventional IPRs, like Basmati rice, Chiniot furniture, Hala Ajraks, Gujrat electric fans, Sialkot sports goods, Hunza wines, Shandoor polo and Sargodha kinoos. In this way, Pakistan will protect its national IP assets in the category of geographical indications, traditional knowledge and folklore, which are becoming increasingly important, being key features on many agricultural products and food labels, said Waseem Haqqie, Chairman IPO Pakistan

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I n t e r v i e wE x p e r t ` s O p i n i o n

PROTECTING CONSUMER RIGHTS

people are aware, no one will be able to cheat them, as in the developed economies. To check counterfeit items, we have a separate agenda. We are also partners of Anti-Counterfeit and Infringement Forum (ACIF), with whom we have an understanding to work together on this crucial issue. CRC favours launch of awareness campaign on the protection of copyrights and trade marks with the collaboration of ACIF and media. The audience must be informed about the disadvantages of pirated books, especially the adverse effects of their poor printing quality on the eyesight and the comprehension of readers, and the hazards related to poor quality and counterfeit goods. For raising consumers' awareness on this special issue, we are also planning a Pledge: What are the disadvantages of the counterfeited seminar.products and why Consumer Rights Council was formed?

P: Markets are full with counterfeited products. How will you Sharfuddin Memon: Since the unchecked sale of counterfeited check this?products inflicts heavy losses upon the consumers and denies

them their right to get quality products, the disadvantages of SM: It is a big task. Unlike CPLC, the CRC has no enforcement counterfeit items is not a debatable issue at all. As prudence authority. We just extend help and support to the law enforcement demanded, Governor Sindh Dr. Ishratul Ibad formulated agencies. Police itself has a dedicated wing to tackle this issue. On Consumer Rights Council (CRC), in September 2005, to our part, acting as a pressure group, we point out the culprits and safeguard the rights and interests of the consumers. The CRC is, break their network with the help of law enforcement agencies.

presently, working under the umbrella of Citizens-Police Liaison P: What is your mode of action?Committee (CPLC). The CRC comprises of 15 persons from the

civil society, belonging to various walks of life, like the media, SM: As I told you earlier, we are working together with the city lawyers, NGO representatives, housewives, etc. CRC members administration. Recently, we established a permanent complaint work voluntarily and are endeavouring to address this problem at centre at Gulberg, in the Federal 'B' Area, with the help of the Town the grass roots level. Nazim. It is a first step to keep consistency in our work.

P: How successful CRC has been to achieve its targets?P: What are the priorities of CRC? SM: CRC is a very young organisation. Its establishment, in SM: Our agenda is very clear. Our priorities include:

itself, is a great success. However, working on the ground 1.To create awareness regarding consumer rights, existing laws involves a lot of difficulties and problems. But, this does not and legal forums by disseminating information,mean that we have done nothing. During the holy month of 2.To provide information and access to information to the Ramadan, we effectively checked the prices of essential items. consumers regarding availability of goods and services,For the first time in the history of the province, some 70 3.To receive and analyse complaints regarding consumer rights Magistrates were deputed to check the prices of essential violations, like price hike, hoarding and quality of goods and commodities during Ramadan. To begin with, our focus was on services, andchecking the prices. Working from step one, like loading of 4.To liaise with government agencies as well as the manufacturers, vegetables and fruits from the farms and off-loading them at the producers, suppliers, civil society and all other stakeholders with a wholesale vegetable market, we also studied the role of the view to promoting and protecting consumer interests and rights.middlemen in the supply chain of fruits and vegetables.

P: Is government serious to protect consumer rights and to P: Why are you focusing only on prices of products? Don't what extent it is supporting CRC?you think, counterfeiting and spurious products is our main

problem? SM: The government is very serious in protecting the consumers'

rights. That's why the Governor of Sindh constituted this SM: I agree. Copyright and other IP rights are vital to human organisation, which enjoys full support and backing of the activity as they offer recognition, fair economic rewards and provincial government. The Governor himself is taking personal other incentives to the creative minds. Yes, it is true, we did not interest to address this problem. Other government agencies are work on the copyright and trade mark issues in the previous days also supporting us in this regard. The problem of sub-standard and because a large number of consumers are not yet quality spurious goods has not manifested itself in a year or two. It has conscious. Some just want to get the products at cheap prices. For

creating quality consciousness, we have chalked out a plan to been existing here for a long time and it would require considerable time and effort to check and root it outmake the people aware of the advantages of quality products. If

Consumers want high quality goods at affordable rates, but they often end up paying high prices for low quality unregistered products, which are available in abundance in the market and whose sale goes unchecked. Recently, the Government of Sindh established a Consumer Rights Council (CRC) to safeguard consumers' interests. With Governor Sindh as its head, CRC has 15 noted citizens as its members. Electronics engineer, Sharfuddin Memon, Tamgha-e-Imtiaz, who is engaged in construction business and also heads the Citizens-Police Liaison Committee (CPLC), is CRC's Secretary. The Quarterly Pledge interviewed Mr. Memon to apprise its readers of the aims, objectives and scope of the working of CRC.

Now, the situation appears to be under control, at least in Chakwal.

P: What about the counterfeiting of your product in other cities?

MHG: We have received complaints about the sale of counterfeit Reuree from other cities. Our distributors in those areas have located the sites where our Reuree is being faked and police in those areas is conducting raids. As a result of these raids, some arrests have also been made.

P: What was the modus operandi of pirates in your line of business?

MHG: We use yellow colour and the picture of my late brother Haji Nazir, alias Pehlwan, on our packing material. The counterfeiters would use our design and also print our address on their packing. However, they would replace my brother's photograph with one of their own with a view to deceiving the customers.

P: How can customers safeguard their rights and avoid being cheated?

MHG: We print the picture of Pehlwan (my brother) and our brand registration number on the packing, which can be easily checked by the customers. Further, we have six sale outlets in Chakwal and a network of distributors in other cities from where our product can be purchased.

P: What steps are you taking to avoid counterfeiting of your Reuree product in future?

MHG: We regularly warn counterfeiters through newspaper advertisements not to copy our Reuree brand mark, otherwise they would face legal action.

Pledge: When and how did you opt for Reuree-making P: Do you think the implementation of IP laws is satisfactory business? in Pakistan?

Malik Haji Gulsher: In 1974, I along with my elder brother, Haji MHG: No doubt, these laws exist in Pakistan, however, their Nazir, purchased a shop in a local market. One day, during implementation is not yet up to the mark as counterfeiting, discussions, we hit upon a plan to produce high quality Reuree, preparation of fake and substandard products, using original using 'Deshi Ghee' (butter oil). Since, we believed in quality and not quantity, our product “Pehlwan Reuree” started gaining popularity.

P: What were the consequences of counterfeiting upon your business?

MHG: With phenomenal growth in the demand for our product, some unscrupulous elements started preparing Reuree and marketing their substandard stuff clandestinely, using not only our brand name but also identical packing. The consumers, who got substandard Reuree, could notice glaring difference in the taste. The look-alike and spurious products started affecting our sale. The situation also damaged our goodwill.

P: Were you aware of the copyright and trade mark laws before this occurrence?

MHG: No, not at all. But the quantum of damage to our business forced me to seek remedial steps. Friends advised us to get the product registered, which was done, in 1988, under the brand

brand names, is still widespread all over the country.name of “Pehlwan Reuree”.

Q: What should the government do to control counterfeiting?P: Has registration served you well?

MHG: Strict implementation of IP laws is the only solution to MHG: Immediately after the registration of Pehlwan Reuree , we control illegal practices. Besides, the government should approached the local police who conducted raids at the marked intensify its awareness campaign across the country, both for the places and arrested a majority of the culprits besides seizing general public and the State officialssubstandard material, which was being used to copy our Reuree.

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M a r k e t W a t c h C o n s e q u e n c e s o f I P R V i o l a t i o n s

BRAND INFRINGEMENT IN REUREE TRADEBRAND INFRINGEMENT IN REUREE TRADEOwner of Pehlwan Reuree, Malik Haji Gulsher tackles faking of his product with great success

Malik Haji Gulsher Malik Amir

In Pakistan, the masses relish eating Reuree, sweet buttered nuggets with a rich coating of sesamum seeds. It is in great demand, especially in winter when people consume it, sometimes in combination with sand-roasted gram or rice, nuts, almonds, raisins or dried grapes.

Malik Haji Gulsher (MHG) and his elder brother Haji Nazir, in 1974, started preparing high quality buttered “Pehlwan Reuree”. Within months, their business picked up. As its demand increased phenomenally, some pushers engaged in the illicit practice of making Reuree, using MHG's brand name “Pehlwan” to market their substandard product. As it adversely affected their business, MHG decided to get their product registered. The Quarterly Pledge recently interviewed MHG and his son Malik Amir, whose views on the ills of counterfeiting and how did it affect their business, are reproduced below.

loss of over Rs. 1.5 billion annually to the oil & lubricants As a sequel to their continuing initiative to create greater industry, Rs. 0.5 billion in government revenues due to awareness about IP laws and their flagrant violation through counterfeited cigarettes alone and Rs. 40 million to the books & counterfeiting and piracy, ACIF and Unilever Pakistan jointly publishing industry. The participants called for immediate arranged a workshop on the “Role of Media in Projecting Legal remedial steps to safeguard the consumers from the hazards Business Practices & IPRs in Pakistan” on November 29, in posed to their safety and health due to substandard counterfeit Islamabad. MediaMark were the event organizers for the products.workshop.

The workshop attracted a sizeable number of senior journalists Vice Chairman ACIF, Asmat Saleem called for strict action to from both the print and the electronic media. Former Ambassador curb the flourishing business of counterfeiting because the and renowned literary figure, Atta-Ul-Haq Qasmi graced the menace was widely affecting the national economy in terms of occasion as chief guest. Unilever’s Legal Advisor & Company damage to the legitimate brands and prospects for further Secretary Amar Naseer, ACIF’s Vice-Chairman Asmat Saleem, investments. He demanded enhanced penalties for IPR offences Unilever's Mohammad Saleem Lali and columnist Javed and more powers to the enforcement agencies so as to effectively Choudhry highlighted the gravity of the menace of piracy and eliminate the illegal practice. counterfeiting and its negative effects on the national economy.

Eminent literary figure Atta-Ul-Haq Qasmi said that the illegal Amar Naseer underlined that brands and IPRs constituted the

practices discouraged creativity because the fixers do not even principal assets of business enterprises and their violation spare literature and other creative works. They copy original negatively impacted both the legal business and the national creative works, poetry, CDs, compositions, art works, columns economy. He lamented that the vice of counterfeiting and piracy and titles without fear of any punishment.continued to ruin the economy, inflicting heavy loss of over Rs.

10 billion annually to the national kitty and colossal damage to Javed Choudhry said that being a columnist, he also faces the the legitimate business organisations despite the existence of a same dilemma as his columns are copied by certain elements. He duly constituted and mandated body to improve and implement highlighted the significant role that the media can play in IP laws. The situation, Amar Naseer pleaded, needed to be mobilizing public opinion for strict implementation of IP laws.addressed by making the public aware about the advantages of

strict implementation of IP laws and the disadvantages of their During question-answer session, the participants raised many continued violation so that the consumers are convinced not to issues regarding IP laws situation in the country and put forward purchase counterfeited brands and pirated products. suggestions to arrest the menace and/or ensure a blanket

implementation of relevant laws.Counterfeiting and violations of IPRs, speakers maintained, undercut the quality image of real brands, erode consumer Later, the participants visited stalls, set-up by member companies confidence in brands and products, damage national reputation of ACIF displaying samples of the original and counterfeit goods, and inflict heavy loss of over Rs. 10 billion annually to the especially CDs, books, food items, cigarettes, consumer national exchequer in terms of tax evasion alone. While various products, etc., with a view to attracting media’s attention to the famous consumer brands lost 7 to 20% of their legitimate sales, rampant menace of counterfeiting and infringement of qulaity the illegitimate trade in counterfeit and infringed products inflicts brands

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Role of Media in ProjectingLegal Business Practices & IPRs in Pakistan

A C I F ’ s E v e n t s M e d i a & I P R s

Some participants of the media workshop.

(L to R) Saleem Lali,Atta-Ul-Haq Qasmi,Asmat Saleem,Amar Naseer andJaved Choudhry

Nazan Mehar Iqbal point for the adulterators and counterfeiters. Counterfeiting is a Courtesy: dangerous menace to rapidly growing economies like that of

The processed and packaged food industry is widely recognised Pakistan. Counterfeiters are a threat to the legitimate industry and as a 'sunrise industry'. It has huge potential for supporting are a hurdle in its growth and success. These unscrupulous players agricultural economy, creation of large scale processed food and deprive the legitimate industry of economies of scale, consumer food chain facilities. As a result, it brings about the generation of loyalty and brand image. The counterfeiters target high quality employment, export earnings and overall economic growth. The products and brands to confuse the consumers and make huge processed and packaged food industry has phenomenally grown in Pakistan over the last few decades.

The total number of industries in Pakistan, since the last two decades, have risen up by approximately 3,900. The amount of workers employed in the food industries has grown to be more than 95,000 since the last three decades, which itself speaks about the scope of job creation in the food industry. Only in the ghee/cooking oil production sector, there are already more than 150 production units with an installed capacity of approximately 3 million tonnes of production.

Few of the reasons for such a rapid growth in the food industry are:

Promotion of Food Safety: Processed and packaged products are screened for adulteration and products are prepared in hygienic conditions. Convenience: Processed and packaged foods may have year-round availability. This makes the manufacturers dependable suppliers for the customers' needs.

profits. The situation is aggravated due to inadequate monitoring Cooking Habits/Trends: There has been quite a change in the lifestyles and eating as well as cooking habits lately. The and checks by the health, food and law enforcement agencies.

Counterfeiters and adulterators make huge profits by using sub-provision of processed and packaged food/fast food products have made it extremely fast and simple for people to manage and standard material and by not having to advertise their products. maintain good cooking/eating at home at their convenience. The goods produced by the counterfeiters are of low quality and Rise in Economic Growth and Consumer Disposable the manufacturing involves the usage of unhygienic and harmful Income: Reiterating the changing life style and eating habits, ingredients, such as the use of non-food colours which is consumers have become more conscious of money-wise dangerous from the viewpoint of consumer health and safety. expenditure, i.e. making sure that they get the appropriate quality, accessibility, simplified cooking etc. in order to speed up and With so much of struggle in order to provide quality and maintain improve their daily chores. consumer loyalty, the food industry needs to continue to work on

fighting counterfeiters and adulterators. Spurious goods being Keeping in mind that the food industry is a rapidly growing low quality and cheap products, are also high threat to the health segment of the industry in Pakistan, it is also a very attractive and safety of our consumers. Counterfeiting and infringements

add up to government losses as these illegitimate sources for adulterated goods do not pay any taxes. The counterfeiters represent the black economy; and dent the national exchequer by evading taxes in all forms. Piracy is a discouraging factor for foreign investors to do business in Pakistan as their branded product is put to the risk of being infringed.

The food companies, despite the hostile environment and lack of government support, try and attack the counterfeiters and infringers through awareness campaigns and seeking raid actions through law enforcement agencies, to the extent possible. Companies with a strong presence need to continuously and effectively keep their consumers well aware of the counterfeiting and adulteration acts and their harmful consequences. This shall in turn, not only benefit the consumers but will also help the healthy industries to continue in providing a high quality range of food products, and help the economy to prosper

T o T h e P o i n t I P R s & P a k i s t a n

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Pirates preparing fake syrups.

A criminal printing counterfeit labels.

Rafhan Best FoodsRafhan Best FoodsIPR VIOLATIONS HURT ONE & ALLIPR VIOLATIONS HURT ONE & ALL

Rafhan Best FoodsIPR VIOLATIONS HURT ONE & ALL

Campaign Against Counterfeit I n d u s t r y F i g h t s B a c k

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The markets in the country are flooded with counterfeit, pirated and substandard goods. Consumer goods, including food stuff, cooking oils, juices, lubricants, medicines and cigarettes, meet some of the basic needs of our life. However, unscrupulous elements clandestinely produce their sub-standard substitutes and market their fake goods as genuine products to make quick bucks. The illicit practice mostly thrives in suburban areas of major cities and the remote rural areas. People of these areas, who generally have less awareness about genuine brands, are easily deceived into purchasing counterfeit products. To safeguard their interests, the legitimate industry has to struggle hard for the protection of their genuine brands with the help of law enforcement agencies.

On getting information from some brand and product owners, the police recently raided a number of factories where various fake brands were being prepared by unscrupulous persons. The raiding parties confiscated heavy consignments of substandard raw material and fake finished products of renowned brands.

According to estimates, violations of Intellectual Property Rights in the shape of counterfeiting, piracy and substandard production of goods is inflicting revenue losses to the government exchequer in multi-billion of rupees, while the illicit practice shatters the consumers' confidence in genuine brands. The spurious products cheat the consumers and put their health and safety at risk. The stakeholders, both public and private, need to intensify their efforts for a stricter implementation of IP laws so that the illegal business practices are eliminated

Industry Fights Back

Substandard tea recovered during raid.

A consignment of counterfeit goods ready for supply to the market. Police confiscated various counterfeit brands during raid at a factory.

Packing of counterfeit products in progress.

Raid on a printing press.

Raid for counterfeit products.

Workshop on IPR Enforcement

In June, 2006, ACIF arranged in Karachi, a workshop on “Enforcement of IPRs,” which was attended by Registrar of Trademarks, Controller of Patents and Police officials. Capital City Police Officer (CCPO), Mr. Niaz Siddiqui CPLC and Consumer Rights Council Chief, Mr. Sharfuddin Memon and others addressed the participants. Main aim of the event was to create awareness regarding rampant infringement of trademarks and copyrights and widespread sale of fake and pirated products. Inadequate enforcement of IP laws and subsequent illegitimate gains to unscrupulous elements and losses to genuine products and consumers were highlighted

In the Kaleidoscope R e c a l l i n g W r i t t e n & S p o k e n

8Managed by:

Pledge Previous Issues

Message from Mohammad Mian Soomro - Chairman Senate of PakistanNeed for a Level Playing FieldInfringement of Intellectual Property Rights and Counterfeiting in PakistanRespecting IPR will Benefit Pakistan's Economy:Interview Yaseen Tahir - DG IPO PakistanPSO Vs CounterfeitingPiracy of my Hit Albums cost me Rs. 1.5 bn: Interview Ibrar-Ul-HaqMenace of Counterfeiting

Pledge: Issue 2 April-June, 2006

IPR Violations Poison Economy: Interview Jeffery Yu - Deputy DG World Intellectual Property Organisation Campaign Against CounterfeitsPirates Don't Even Spare Faiz:Interview Salima HashmiPreventing 'Copyright' from becoming 'Right to Copy'Consequences of IPR Violation: Interview Kaleem Bukhari, Naswar DealerCounterfeiting Hurts Consumers The Most: Analysis M. Azam ShakeelPeoples’ Voice

Pledge: Issue 3 July-September, 2006

Message from Mrs. Ameena Saiyid, OBE Chairperson, ACIF Pirates Inflict Heavy Losses on the writer & poet Ahmed FarazIPRs: Implications & Dimensions: Interview Hasan Irfan KhanDrug Piracy, A Human Rights Violation By Dr. M. Shahzad SaleemIndustry Fights Back

Representatives of ACIF member companies with

Mr. Niaz Siddiqui, CCPO, Karachi.

Mr. Kamal Rizvi addressing the seminar.

Pledge: Issue 1 January-March, 2006

Some participants of the discussion.

Interaction with MediaACIF arranged an informal interaction with the Media, on July 27, in Lahore, with focus on counterfeiting, piracy and copyright laws violations. The journalists were informed that writers, musicians and producers of TV programmes and movies were losing millions of rupees due to piracy and violations of the copyright act. The speakers lamented that the apathy and negligence of bureaucracy encouraged counterfeiting, infringement and piracy and stressed the need for strict implementation of IP laws

ACIF’s Events & Activities - 2006

Role of Media in Projecting IPRs in PakistanWorkshop on the role of media and journalists for enforcement of IPRs was organised in November in Islamabad

(Complete Report on Page 5)

ACIF & IPOOn August 1, ACIF held a seminar on “IPRs in Pakistan”, in Karachi. Intellectual Property Organisation (IPO) Chairman, Mr. Waseem Haqqie was the Chief Guest; while DG IPO, Mr Yasin Tahir was the Guest of Honour. Renowned actor and artist Kamal Ahmed Rizvi and other speakers also spoke on the occasion. The speakers noted that protection of IPRs not only played a significant role in the economic development, growth and prosperity of a nation, but also encouraged healthy business practices