RECORDER REPORT

LAHORE: The Intellectual Property Organization of Pakistan (IPO-Pakistan) and Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) joined hands by entering into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to initiate and promote cooperation for promotion and commercialization of inventions and innovations here Monday.

Mujeeb Ahmed Khan Chairman IPO-Pakistan and Dr Umar Saif Chairman PITB signed the MoU on behalf of their respective organizations. Through this collaboration both parties will conduct joint awareness raising sessions regarding intellectual property issues and topics by holding seminars, conferences, and workshops on intellectual property issues and topics. Both parties will also engage in research programs/projects regarding intellectual property issues and topics, allowing reciprocal access to research facilities, like libraries, electronic resources, etc.

On this occasion Dr Umar Saif said that this collaboration would create synergistic effect to hoist innovation culture in Pakistan to promote and commercialized our inventions and it would add value creation in national products. This MoU would also give assistance on all intellectual property matters to the incubating units being supported by PITB under Plan9 Project, he added.

He further stated that one of the important missing pieces of the startup ecosystem in Pakistan was protection of Intellectual Property in Pakistan while MoU with the Intellectual Property Organization of Pakistan would facilitate registration of patents, trademarks and copyrights, including a one-window at Plan9 and an automated platform to streamline the process for everyone applying for patents, copyrights and trademarks.

Mujeeb Ahmed Khan Chairman IPO-Pakistan explained that the MoU enabled both organizations to collaboratively work on a plan for building out a successful long term relationship with the intent of creating impact both in Pakistan and in the world.

He further said that that the biggest challenge IPO faced was the access to data of patents all across Pakistan. PITB would be given access to the portal having the access to the information of 9000 patents all across the country as we were working for the promotion of knowledge based economy by establishing strong liaison between public intuitions, academia and the industry, he said. IPO was looking for technical help from PITB to initiate an incubator to train their officials for using the technology by generating one window solution for registration of patents, trademarks and copyrights including one window at Plan9, he added.

IPO sought assistance from PITB to provide expertise in automation of their data and turn the data into verifiable digital form. PITB will further provide assistance in developing the system where data of registered trademark can be scanned and digitized to future convenience. Dr Rizwan Basharat Regional Director IPO, Sajid Latif Director General governance and senior officials were present during the meeting.

IPO-Pakistan is an autonomous institution of the Government of Pakistan, concerned with copyright, trademarks, patents and other general types of intellectual property regulation. The Punjab Information Technology Board PITB is also an autonomous body established by Government of the Punjab to digitize the governance and promote entrepreneurship in Punjab. Both parties will share information and guide each other on IP right protection, commercialization and licensing arrangements with third parties.