Azerbaijan to adopt intellectual property law

Azerbaijani Copyright Agency head Kamran Imanov said parliament will soon consider a law on ensuring intellectual property rights and combating piracy.

Imanov said such a law will be adopted in the CIS for the first time.

"Implementing our anti-piracy program, we were able to reduce the pirated goods in Azerbaijan. Although it is recognized throughout the world, we are not satisfied with this," Imanov said.

Azerbaijan intends to reduce the rate of pirated products to 40 percent, he added.
"We are modifying existing legislation and adopt new laws for this end. Centers will be created in the country to ensure intellectual property rights," Imanov said.
The center will have functions related to the law.

The law is intended to regulate issues to protect the rights of intellectual property right holders, and determine the administrative and judicial proceedings related with the protection of their interests and preventing crime.

The third chapter of the law fully relates to the fight against piracy.

The chapter reflects rules relating to digital encoding works, phonograms and other intellectual property. The law would also prevent the illegal use of information technology. Imanov said this is inevitable due to the increasing pace of economic development of intellectual property rights and acceleration of the integration of intellectual property in a system of e-commerce.

The court may also seize and destroy counterfeit products from retail outlets under the law, as well as remove equipment and materials used in illegal goods production.


/Trend/