THE National Intellectual Property Office (NIPO) has expressed concerns that the sale of pirated and counterfeit brand name products are putting legitimate traders at a great disadvantage.
The office said in a statement the sale of counterfeit goods especially food items, chemical products and medicines, among many others, should be stopped because such items are putting consumers’ health in danger.
Even the use of fake electrical items at home was dangerous, NIPO said.
“The issue on enforcement is very timely because not only is the legitimate trader losing out from business but also the consumers who are vulnerable to the bad effects of these counterfeit goods.
“The infiltration of pirated and counterfeit goods is a growing problem in PNG that it had become a serious issue needing co-operation from all levels of Government to address it,” NIPO said.
It said the lack of appropriate procedures and systems for IPR (intellectual property rights) enforcement and the lack of general knowledge and experience in addressing infringement through set enforcement systems and procedures had been the obstacle to effective enforcement.
 

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