IP digitisation in Bangladesh

The relevant stakeholders should play their roles and responsibilities to facilitate IP digitalisation process to meet the challenges for sustainable economic growth

We are proud as citizens of Bangladesh for achieving the status in March 2018 as a developing country from a Least Developing Country (LDC). Currently, our per capita income is almost 1,754 USD, GDP Growth is 7.65 percent, Population below poverty line is 12.9 percent, and foreign reserve is almost 33.02 billion US dollars. Being a LDC, Bangladesh is enjoying duty-free market access in all developed countries, except apparel exports to the USA. Bangladesh may enjoy all LDC-specific benefits up to 2024 with a grace period of another 3 years. So, there are approximately 10 years for us to prepare ourselves to face the challenges for sustaining economic growth as a developing country. In this context, Intellectual Property may play one of the significant roles for sustaining economic growth. If we are able to ensure IP Rights (IPR) in the country, world famous brands will be interested to establish their further business in Bangladesh.

Due to the graduation from LDC to developing country, Bangladesh will lose about 8 percent of its total exports revenue (which is equivalent to USD 2.7 billion) because of the imposition of additional tariff on its exports by 6.7 percent. On the other hand, we should utilize the opportunities of developing country for sustaining economic growth. In this connection, we may take more public private initiatives for branding Bangladesh to attract foreign investment ensuring adequate infrastructure facilitates. Moreover, if IPR related issues are addressed then significant monetary value amounting to more than BDT 50 thousand crore will be added to our economy.

Intellectual Property Association of Bangladesh (IPAB) is established as a non-profitable welfare association for facilitating IPR in Bangladesh.

The major social welfare works of the association are rising public awareness against IPR violation (counterfeited products, copyrights infringement, smuggled products, duty evasion etc.), legal enforcement support and policy advocacy. After its establishment, IPAB itself has taken significant initiatives for the sake of national interest, especially to establish intellectual property rights in different sectors.

In different research, it has been identified that over 12 percent of medicines, over 30 percent of agrochemical products, over 50 percent of cosmetics and over 70 percent of electronic appliances sold throughout the country are either fake or substandard or unauthorized. It is a bitter truth. Such malpractice is continuously posing a threat to the prosperity of the economy and tarnishing the brand image and profitability of several brands. Worst of all, customers and mass people are in great risk of using such substandard counterfeit products.

With the ever-increasing ease of information, protecting Intellectual Property through the use of modern digital technology should be priority for all. Seeing such scenario, IPAB is working to facilitate Intellectual Property Digitalization in Bangladesh (IPDB). This programme will create following facilitates:

Anti-counterfeit Technological Hub: Registering any intellectual property to easy detection of fake products.

Technological Solution: creating a unique solution through web, mobile apps and SMS to check originality and report any infringed copy of a branded product.

Consumer Awareness: Arrange awareness campaign for stakeholders and consumers.

Digital Supply Chain Process: Web/apps based solution ensuring digital supply chain process.

Market Monitoring Cell:  Introduce a ‘Monitoring Cell’ in association with legal enforcement authority for market monitoring to identify illicit products/services.

Arbitration Facility:  Introduce an arbitration facility to address infringement issues of IP holders to avoid litigation risks.

We all know, the current Government is driving the programme of digitalization process of key sectors and their integration. Consequently, everyone will have access to the information and technology to be benefitted through the using modern technology even from a remote corner of the country. With a view to keeping us on the government track, this year we have decided to focus on digitalization process of intellectual property. It is not a new concept in the developed countries, however, proper implementation IP digitalization process may not be easy to introduce in Bangladesh due to lack of technological capacity and unfamiliarity of stakeholders. The IP digitalization process is essential for protection of IP rights which will address the issues of counterfeit, illicit trade and copyrights violation.

Innovation and creativity greatly matters if want to bring our expected changes within shortest period. It is true that every success is built on innovations and intellectual knowledge.  So, protecting intellectual property rights is a must for our better future. Therefore, the relevant stakeholders should play their roles and responsibilities to facilitate IP digitalisation process to meet the challenges for sustainable economic growth in Bangladesh have a developing country.

The writer is Director General, Intellectual Property Association of Bangladesh

Email: [email protected]

 

IP digitisation in Bangladesh

The relevant stakeholders should play their roles and responsibilities to facilitate IP digitalisation process to meet the challenges for sustainable economic growth

We are proud as citizens of Bangladesh for achieving the status in March 2018 as a developing country from a Least Developing Country (LDC). Currently, our per capita income is almost 1,754 USD, GDP Growth is 7.65 percent, Population below poverty line is 12.9 percent, and foreign reserve is almost 33.02 billion US dollars. Being a LDC, Bangladesh is enjoying duty-free market access in all developed countries, except apparel exports to the USA. Bangladesh may enjoy all LDC-specific benefits up to 2024 with a grace period of another 3 years. So, there are approximately 10 years for us to prepare ourselves to face the challenges for sustaining economic growth as a developing country. In this context, Intellectual Property may play one of the significant roles for sustaining economic growth. If we are able to ensure IP Rights (IPR) in the country, world famous brands will be interested to establish their further business in Bangladesh. Due to the graduation from LDC to developing country, Bangladesh will lose about 8 percent of its total exports revenue (which is equivalent to USD 2.7 billion) because of the imposition of additional tariff on its exports by 6.7 percent. On the other hand, we should utilize the opportunities of developing country for sustaining economic growth. In this connection, we may take more public private initiatives for branding Bangladesh to attract foreign investment ensuring adequate infrastructure facilitates. Moreover, if IPR related issues are addressed then significant monetary value amounting to more than BDT 50 thousand crore will be added to our economy. Intellectual Property Association of Bangladesh (IPAB) is established as a non-profitable welfare association for facilitating IPR in Bangladesh. The major social welfare works of the association are rising public awareness against IPR violation (counterfeited products, copyrights infringement, smuggled products, duty evasion etc.), legal enforcement support and policy advocacy. After its establishment, IPAB itself has taken significant initiatives for the sake of national interest, especially to establish intellectual property rights in different sectors. In different research, it has been identified that over 12 percent of medicines, over 30 percent of agrochemical products, over 50 percent of cosmetics and over 70 percent of electronic appliances sold throughout the country are either fake or substandard or unauthorized. It is a bitter truth. Such malpractice is continuously posing a threat to the prosperity of the economy and tarnishing the brand image and profitability of several brands. Worst of all, customers and mass people are in great risk of using such substandard counterfeit products. With the ever-increasing ease of information, protecting Intellectual Property through the use of modern digital technology should be priority for all. Seeing such scenario, IPAB is working to facilitate Intellectual Property Digitalization in Bangladesh (IPDB). This programme will create following facilitates: Anti-counterfeit Technological Hub: Registering any intellectual property to easy detection of fake products. Technological Solution: creating a unique solution through web, mobile apps and SMS to check originality and report any infringed copy of a branded product. Consumer Awareness: Arrange awareness campaign for stakeholders and consumers. Digital Supply Chain Process: Web/apps based solution ensuring digital supply chain process. Market Monitoring Cell: Introduce a Monitoring Cell in association with legal enforcement authority for market monitoring to identify illicit products/services. Arbitration Facility: Introduce an arbitration facility to address infringement issues of IP holders to avoid litigation risks. We all know, the current Government is driving the programme of digitalization process of key sectors and their integration. Consequently, everyone will have access to the information and technology to be benefitted through the using modern technology even from a remote corner of the country. With a view to keeping us on the government track, this year we have decided to focus on digitalization process of intellectual property. It is not a new concept in the developed countries, however, proper implementation IP digitalization process may not be easy to introduce in Bangladesh due to lack of technological capacity and unfamiliarity of stakeholders. The IP digitalization process is essential for protection of IP rights which will address the issues of counterfeit, illicit trade and copyrights violation. Innovation and creativity greatly matters if want to bring our expected changes within shortest period. It is true that every success is built on innovations and intellectual knowledge. So, protecting intellectual property rights is a must for our better future. Therefore, the relevant stakeholders should play their roles and responsibilities to facilitate IP digitalisation process to meet the challenges for sustainable economic growth in Bangladesh have a developing country. The writer is Director General, Intellectual Property Association of Bangladesh Email: [email protected]