ISLAMABAD, Apr 23 (APP):World Book and Copyright Day on Tuesday observed across the globe including Pakistan with aim to pay tribute to writers, authors and contributors as their endeavors always shape in valuable creations providing knowledge and pleasure to the readers.
On the eve of this World Book and Copyright Day, IPO-Pakistan reiterated its commitment to ensure protection of authors’ rights.
Chairman Intellectual Property Organization (IPO)-Pakistan, Mujeeb Ahmed Khan said that commemoration of World Book and Copyright Day underlines the need for establishing strong connection with books through reading.
“Being an important component of intellectual property, copyright protects and promotes the authors’ rights helping them to earn their bread and butter by exclusive commercial use of their books”, he said.
He said that this commercial exploitation of the creation by the author motivates them to concentrate on further creativity.
“Thus, copyright serves as economic function i.e. enabling the authors to receive remuneration for the use of their copyright work and also protects the moral rights of the authors” he said.
Chairman IPO said Pakistan had produced legendary authors and content creators whose creations competed with any other creation in the world, however, the only difference was the level of respect we gave to our authors.
“Further, there is lack of motivation for book reading among the people of the country.”
Mujeeb Ahmed Khan said that Pakistan had the Copyright Law in place which safeguarded the authors interests and ensured remedies and penalties for the violators of their rights.
“However, due to lack of awareness regarding the copyright laws in Pakistan, we are lagging behind in enforcement and commercial exploitation of the copyright work. Therefore, there is dire need to bring about awareness to right owners and users as well. Our print as well as the electronic media can play their role in creating awareness regarding copyright laws” he said.
Mujeeb Ahmed said that IPO-Pakistan was also in the process to amend the Copyright Law for protecting the copyright work in the digital era and also bringing it at par with international agreements on copyrights.
