ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has joined the Madrid system of Trademark of World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) which allows the brand owners to protect their trademarks of different local items.
This was stated by Adviser to Prime Minister on Commerce and Investment, Abdul Razak Dawood. The adviser held a consultative meeting at the Ministry of Commerce to discuss matters relating to the intellectual property ecosystem of Pakistan.
The commerce adviser was informed that as a landmark achievement, after joining the Madrid system of trademark of WIPO, local brand owners now protect their trademarks in over 100 countries through a single and cost-effective procedure. He said the Ministry of Commerce remains committed to supporting Pakistan’s brands and strengthening of intellectual property ecosystem.
He was further informed that the President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan has signed the instrument of accession which paved the way for Pakistan to become the 108th country in the world to join the Madrid System. The adviser said that Pakistan’s permanent representative to the United Nations in Geneva deposited the instrument of accession with the WIPO.
He was briefed that with this development, the trademark holders of Pakistan would be able to protect their trademarks in more than 100 countries, by filing a single application at WIPO. Similarly, the member countries of the protocol would also be able to get protection of their trademarks in Pakistan by using Madrid route, he said.
He said that it would go a long way in ameliorating the business environment in Pakistan and will also encourage foreign investment in the country. He lauded the efforts of the Intellectual Property Organization of Pakistan (IPO) in this regard. He said that it is the policy of the government to help Pakistan’s brands to go global and this is the best and the most sustainable way to increase exports. He said the Ministry of Commerce remains committed to supporting Pakistan’s brands and to strengthening of intellectual property ecosystem.
Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva Khalil-ur-Rehman Hashmi submitted an instrument of accession to the Madrid Protocol to Darren Tang, Director-General of the WIPO in Geneva.
Effective May 24, local brand owners in Pakistan can start using the Madrid System to protect their trademarks in 123 areas of the other 107 members of the system by submitting an international application and paying the same fee.
Darren Tang said on the occasion that the affiliate instrument would be easier and cheaper for Pakistani brands like to get protection in export markets. He said that small and medium enterprises in Pakistan would benefit from Madrid’s easy registration system as well as cricket stars or other Pakistani personalities whose personal brand is known all over the world.
He said the Madrid system would make it easier for those interested in bringing their brands to a larger market of over 200 million, as is the case for other members of the system. He said that with the accession to Madrid, Pakistan has taken an important step in further strengthening its intellectual property ecosystem with the support of its brand owners, business people and businesses.
