United States to appoint IPR Attache in India

Kolkata, May 08: In a landmark decision, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has decided to appoint for the first time an experienced ''IPR Attache'' at the US Embassy in New Delhi ''for effective implementation and protection of Intellectual Property Rights'' (IPR)in the country.

Making this announcement at a ''Indo-US Seminar on IPR Enforcement'', organised by the Conferederation of Indian Industry(CII), Eastern Region here today, US Consul General in Eastern India Henry V Jardine said efforts were also on to associate the FBI, Department of Justice and Customs Services, in the process and to provide asssitance in IPR enforcement in India ''as much as possible''.

'' Representatives from some of these agencies will be engaging with their counterparts in India in this programme over the next few months, '' Mr Jardine informed the participants justifying the decision to appoint the new IPR Attache at the US Embassy soon.

Expressing serious concern at the stupendous growth in software piracy in India causing loss of several billion dollars to the nationl exchequer as well as to individual companies, Mr Jardine said in order to reap the maximum benefit from the fruits of individual talent, it had now become necessary for almost every country in the world to ensure full protection of their intellectual rights.

He said the US government was also holding high level parleys with senior representatives of the Government of India to ensure '' how to best target the significant US technical assistance for India this year to help build capacity in stronger IPR protection. '' Referring to the growing importance of the protection of IPR, the US Consul General said, '' This would remain the central efforts of the US government agencies to improve IPR standards worlwide. '' '' Under the WTO norms it required for all members to pass and enforce copyright, patent and trademark laws besides having a strong dispute settlement mechanism to protect the IPR in the respective countries, '' Mr Jardine said.

Also speaking on the occasion and later during an informal chat with UNI, Microsoft, Regional Consultant, Tim Dwyer painted a grim picture about the rampant piracy of computer software from the USA to the rest of the world.

Claiming that Pakistan, China, Indonesia and Bangladesh had among the worst records of software piracy, Mr Dwywer said India too had one of he most concerning records in this regard.

Further elaborating he said during 2005 alone Microsoft and the U.S. Treasury Department had lost as much as 29 billion dollars in terms of software piracy, and called immediate corrective measures by all concerned.

He also underscored the need for creation more public awarness at all levels about the disastrous effect of softyware piracy around the world and proper protective measures of IPR by all means.

More than 500 software and IPR experts from all across the country and the US are participating in the day-long seminar.

UNI