Time to enhance protection of intellectual property rights

MUSCAT: There is a strong need to enhance the protection of intellectual property rights, both in Oman and internationally, experts said at a conference held on Saturday and yesterday in Muscat.

The US Embassy, the Omani Ministry of Commerce and Industry and the Information Technology Authority co-sponsored the ‘Intellectual Property Rights Symposium’. The event, coordinated by Al Jazeera Technical Solutions, provided businesspeople the opportunity to learn how to protect their intellectual property in Oman, and meet enforcement officials.

Greta Holtz, American ambassador to Oman, spoke of the many benefits of intellectual property rights (IPR), which include increased innovation and entrepreneurship, higher-paying jobs, and better education for people working in industries with intensive IPR. She stressed the importance of protecting IPRs. “These are just some of the reasons we in the United States consider IP protection to be a national priority in the United States, and we encourage Oman and nations around the world to recognise the economic importance of protecting innovation. Innovation is vital to powering economic development and sustainable job growth,” Holtz said.

Attendees also heard from Christopher Robertson, the Deputy Director of the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Centre in the USA, which oversees the US Government’s domestic and international law enforcement for IPR violations. Robertson spoke of the many ways IPRs are violated, from the manufacturing and selling of counterfeit goods such as fake designer clothes and accessories and pharmaceuticals, to pirated music and movies.

Widespread consensus

“Although assessing and measuring the magnitude and impact of counterfeiting and piracy is a challenge, there is widespread consensus that IPR crime is a growing global threat and challenge,” Robertson said.

In fact, the numbers are shocking. It’s estimated that there is up to $250 billion of trade in counterfeit and pirated goods each year, which translates as a big loss to legitimate businesses whose IPRs are being stolen, he said.

As demand for counterfeit and pirated goods increases, due to their cheaper prices, Robertson said it’s more important for different agencies and countries to cooperate to protect IPRs. In the US, 21 different agencies work together to combat IPR crimes.