World Book & Copyright Day To Be Observed Tomorrow

Chairman, Intellectual Property Organization (IPO)-Pakistan, Mujeeb Ahmed Khan on Monday said that commemoration of World Book and Copyright Day underlines the need for establishing strong connection with books through reading

ISLAMABAD, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 22nd Apr, 2019 ) :Chairman, Intellectual Property Organization (IPO)-Pakistan, Mujeeb Ahmed Khan on Monday said that commemoration of World Book and Copyright Day underlines the need for establishing strong connection with books through reading. In a message on World Book and Copyright Day to be observed on April 23, he said that the day is celebrated in order to pay tribute to writers, authors and contributors as their endeavors always shape in valuable creations providing knowledge and pleasure to the readers.

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.

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.

Pakistan has produced legendary authors and content creators whose creations compete with any other creation in the world, however, the only difference is the level of respect we give to our authors.

Further, there is lack of motivation for book reading among the people of the country. Pakistan has the Copyright Law in place which safeguards the authors interests and ensures 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. IPO-Pakistan is 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.

On the eve of this World Book and Copyright Day, IPO-Pakistan reiterate its commitment to ensure protection of authors' rights.