Monday 2 November 2015

Copy Right Laws
 Father of the modern science Albert Einstein, said, “Imagination is more important than knowledge”. Einstein’s preference for imagination over knowledge is a starting point as because Intellectual property (IP) is based on the power of imagination. Einstein understood that it is the ability to stand on an existing foundation of accepted knowledge and see beyond to the next frontier of discovery that is the source of personal, cultural and economic advancement. 
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 The world economy and trade is heading Globalization. Rapid technological obsolescence and fierce competition in the world trade have made it imperative to protect the innovations using the tool of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) system. Without the rewards of Intellectual Property system an innovator does not feel encouraged to develop new products and an investor has little incentive to pour capital into new ideals. As a result, innovative affords are obstructed and IP protection becomes an indispensable element for commercialisation of new creation worldwide.     Different countries of the world have their own National Intellectual Property laws according to their needs with different procedures and time limit of protection. This heterogeneity in the world Intellectual Property Right system creates barriers and hinders smooth operation of free world trade and necessity standardization of the world IPR regime. To remove these trade barriers TRIPS (Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights) agreement was brought in picture by WTO in 1995. It mandates new multinational companies/organizations a minimum standard for protection of IPR as well as procedures and measures for their enforcement. It also spelled out in detailed the responsibilities of the member countries to set standard in their national laws for the practical protection of IP rights as well as procedures for executing rights against infringement.  
 For Bangladesh, modernization of national IP laws is very difficult as it requires expertise, infrastructure, adaptations and enforcement of new rules which is not in place now. Yet the Government of Bangladesh has taken necessary steps to modernize and up date its legislations on IPR by making new laws on Copyright, Patents, Trademarks and Designs and Plant breeder’s right in compliance with the provisions of the TRIPS Agreement.  With the
enactment of new IPR laws, filing of Applications both foreign and local will be increased to a large extent and the activities of the IP offices will be increased as well.  This will help creating confidence in the minds of foreign investors that investment in Bangladesh is secured. Such a situation will influence the investors to transfer advanced technologies and invest in manufacturing units to develop our national economy. Thus Bangladesh would undoubtedly be benefited from it to a great extent in future. 
Government organizations, industrial associations, copyright and IP societies, media and NGOs can play facilitating role in national capacity building and awareness raising for effective utilization of the IPR system in our country. To face the challenges of the new millennium like other countries of the world, Bangladesh need to strengthen cooperation and exchange information, stiffen intellectual property protection and make full use of the IPR system in the development of our national economy.