MNCs seek detectives’ help to check IPR violations

According to an ongoing study commissioned by the
Ministry of Human Resource Development, the estimated losses due to piracy in
motion pictures is 7.3%, sound recordings and musical compositions 24.5%, books
21%, and the highest is in the software domain, reaching 292.8%.

While recent trend of piracy has badly affected
Indian film and musical industry, we are doing our best to bring this fake
business to end.

To recommend improvements in the working of the
Intellectual Property (IP) regime in India in terms of IT enabling and
networking of operations and enhancing human resource capabilities, the
Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industries (Ficci) and Department
of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), Ministry of Commerce and Industry,
have also joined hands to set up a working group.

DIPP has taken note of Ficci’s recommendations and
it has been decided to digitise all the patents granted till date and open it up
for online public access.

Showing concern over the trend, the patent office
has started e-filing of patent and trademark applications through its website
http://www.patentoffice.nic.in.

The term ‘Intellectual Property’ reflects the idea
that its subject matter is the product of the mind or the intellect. These could
be in the form of patents, trademarks, geographical indications, industrial
designs, layout-designs (topographies) of integrated circuits, plant variety
protection and copyright.

According to the data released by the industries
body, the filing of patent applications has increased from 4,824 in the year
1999-2000 to 28,882 applications in the year 2006-07. The grant of patents has
shot up from 1,881 in 1999-2000 to 7,359 in 2006-07.

“Although companies and administration are doing
their best to stop it, we feel that a separate wing from the government to
tackle this crime would help us and the firms,” an expert said.