Intellectual Property Organisation (IPO) Pakistan Chairman Hameedullah Jan Afridi on Friday said issues relating to infringement of the music industry’s copyrights had been taken up with the agencies concerned and it had been assured that the rights of lawful owners would be protected by proceeding against violators under the law.
He said this in a meeting of executives related to the music industries. IPO Pakistan Director General Sajjad Ahmed Bhutta, IPO Executive Director Umar Dad Afridi and IPO Director Administration and Human Resource Meesaq Arif were also present. Afridi said the Pakistan Telecommunications Authority had intimated all telecom operators to refrain from violation of copyrights and to abide by the laws they had committed to at the issuance of licences.
He praised the role of the music industry in providing entertainment to people and asked representatives of the music industry to take care of its artistes and follow copyright laws to protect their benefits, especially with relation to provision of royalties. The IPO Pakistan chairman, listening to the music industry’s grievances, assured them that law enforcement agencies would initiate legal action against those found involved in piracy.
He said the IPO Pakistan was playing its role in establishing rule of law in the country concerning IP rights, which would pave the way for investment in various business sectors. Bhutta said the rights of the music industry would be protected under the law, and the infringement of copyrights case was under process. He said the IPO had extended all possible institutional support to resolve the music industry’s grievances.