Topic: International Intellectual Property Protection
Country: Bangladesh
Delegate Name: Kay Zubkus
School: Forest Hills Northern High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Bangladesh position papers GLIMUN 2017 committees
Intellectual property refers to creations of the mind such as creative works of art, books, inventions, symbols, and names. These said creations are protected by law under copyrights, trademarks, and patents that give the creator credit for their work. The people of Bangladesh fully support the implementation of IP laws in order to foster creativity as well as economic growth.
As a member of the WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization) since 1985, Bangladesh has taken very few measures to insure IPP for its citizens. It is estimated that 90% of all creative works from businesses, such as software, are pirated. In response to this the BSA, the Software Alliance, in partnership with the iIPB (Intellectual Property Rights Association of Bangladesh) founded an office in Bangladesh as of 2014 in order to improve the IPP as well as public awareness of the topic. They elected to accept the Paris Convention on Intellectual Property of 1991, but they are struggling to find a legislative frame that incorporates and agrees with The Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property (TIPS). However, they have passed legislation on the Copyright Act of 2000, the Trademark Act in 2009, and The Geographical Indication of Goods Act of 2013. Certain government agencies are taking action against counterfeiting as well as pirating such as the NBR/Customs, Mobile Courts, and the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB).
Since the implementation of such legislation, the number of counterfeit cases taken on by Bangladesh authorities has risen exponentially due to the increase in awareness of IPP. However, there is still more work to be done through enforcement of IPP laws in the individual states as well as through the UN. Bangladesh would also like to see greater protection against cyber criminals in order to punish those who try to go against country and UN laws.
