Brief Introduction:
Intellectual property (IP) refers to creations of the human mind, such as inventions, literary and artistic works, and symbols, design, names, and images used in commerce. There are several types of intellectual property.
IP law protects the creators and owners of these creations by granting them certain exclusive rights. It is designed to encourage innovation and creativity by giving people an incentive to invest time and resources into creating new things. IP law gives the owner of IP rights the exclusive right to use, sell, and license their IP to others.
IPO refers to the intellectual property organization Pakistan. It initially established as an autonomous body dated April 8, 2015. It is now under the control of commerce division.
IPO Pakistan deals with following types of Intellectual properties.
Trade Mark :
In case of goods, A Trademark is a word, phrase, symbol, and/or design that identifies and distinguishes the source of the goods of one party from those of others.
While for Services, A service mark is a word, phrase, symbol, and / or design that identifies and distinguishes the source of a service rather than goods.
Trade Marks Registry (TMR) is main department of Intellectual Property Organization of Pakistan (IPO-Pakistan) working for the registration of trade and services marks under the Trademarks Ordinance, 2001.
A trade mark can be registered in respect of Goods or Services or both, it should not contain any prohibited word.
PATENT :
A patent is grant of exclusive rights for an invention to make, use and sell the invention for a limited period of 20 years. Once you have registered a patent, it prohibits others to make, use, or sell the invention. The protection of the patent starts once the patent is granted to you by IPO Pakistan.
A patent owner decides that who may or may not use the patented invention during the protected period. The owner of the patent can also sell its own to other, which will make the purchaser the new owner of patent.
Patent can be a useful product or a process.
DESIGN :
Ornamental or aesthetic aspect of an article is design. It may consist of three dimensional features (shape or face) or two dimensional (pattern, lines or color).
It can be for technical and medical instruments to watches, jewelry and other luxury items; from house wares and electrical appliances to vehicles and architectural structures.
The registration of design prevents others from unauthorized copying or imitation of design.
COPYRIGHT :
An instrument which provides the creator of a work of art or literature, or a work that conveys information or ideas, the right to control its usage.
Copyright also gives economic benefit and legal protection to its owner.
Copyrights can be for the following creative works
- Literary works; Books, Magazines, Journals, Lectures, Dramas, Novels, Computer programmes/Software and compilation of data etc.
- Artistic works; paintings, Maps, photographs, drawings, Charts, Calligraphies, Sculptures, Architectural Works, Label Designs, Logos, Monograms and other works alike.
- Cinematographic works; movies, audio-visual works, documentaries etc; and
- Record works; sound recordings, musical works etc.
GI :
Geographical indications (GIs) are distinctive signs used to identify a product as originating from a particular place, region, or country.
These signs have specific geographical origin and possess qualities and reputation due to natural and human factors in place of origin
They are used to protect and promote the reputation of certain products that are closely associated with a specific place of origin, and to ensure that consumers are not misled about the true origin of the product.
According to the GI Act and Rules the following four bodies play a vital role in the GI registration and protection system of Pakistan.
- State
- Registrant
- Authorized Users
- Certification Body