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U.S. Welcomes Pakistani Efforts to Protect Intellectual Property

May 5, 2005

Seizures net over 100,000 pirated compact discs, videos, cassettes

Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Josette Sheeran Shiner has welcomed Pakistan’s recent efforts to strengthen its protection of intellectual property rights through administrative reform and aggressive enforcement.

Pakistan has created a central government agency, the Pakistan Intellectual Property Rights Organization (PIPRO), to oversee copyright, trademark and patent protection issues.  In addition, Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency this week made nine arrests; seized over 100,000 pirated compacts discs (CDs), videos and cassettes; and shut down six illegal duplication facilities.

"Strong protections for copyrights, trademarks and patents have proven a winning strategy for economic growth and development,” Shiner said in a May 5 statement.  “Steps like these will no doubt help Pakistan attract greater investment in innovative industries."

Following is the text of the Deputy Trade Representative’s statement:

OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE
Executive Office of the President
Washington, D.C. 20508

USTR Press Releases are available on the USTR website at www.ustr.gov

For Immediate Release:  May 5, 2005

Contact:  Richard Mills / Neena Moorjani
             (202) 395-3230

Statement of Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Josette Sheeran Shiner Regarding Pakistan and Intellectual Property Rights

"Strong protections for copyrights, trademarks and patents have proven a winning strategy for economic growth and development. We welcome two steps recently taken by Pakistan to improve intellectual property rights protection. First it has created an organization - the Pakistan Intellectual Property Rights Organization (PIPRO) - to consolidate authority over trademarks, patents, and copyrights in one government body. Second, Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) this week made nine arrests for copyright violations, seized over 100,000 pirated CDs and video and audio cassettes, and, most importantly, shut down six factories illegally producing optical media. Steps like these will no doubt help Pakistan attract greater investment in innovative industries."

Source: http://usinfo.state.gov/sa/Archive/2005/May/05-852740.html