The Hindu Business Line : `IPR protection will help in FDI, R&D'

Stressing on the urgent need for effective enforcement of intellectual property rights (IPR) in India, Ms Inez Miyamoto, Supervisory Special Agent in the Cyber Crime Fraud Unit of the FBI, US said that India, as a major innovator, should participate in global efforts to protect IPR.

Speaking at an interactive session organised by the CII, Eastern Region jointly with the American Embassy recently on IPR enforcement, she said India needs to attract FDI and encourage transfer of technology in this "win-win game".

She put the 2004 world piracy rate at more than 45 per cent, involving a loss of $32 billion. In the case of entertainment software, the losses were around $3 billion (some 50 countries studied); global music piracy (2004) accounted for around $4.6 billion and losses to companies annually on motion pictures worldwide were around $3 billion.

Citing the economic benefits of enforcing IPR, various experts from the US said that it helps to attract FDI and R&D, encourages development of local industries, and prevents "brain drain".

Among the significant social benefits, they cited encouragement to growth of local culture and promotion of rule of law and transparency.

Elaborating on the FBI's fight for commercial integrity in a global economy, Ms Imamoto said that the various types of copyright infringement covered areas such as computer software, recorded music, motion pictures, cable and satellite TV, interactive games and books.

According to Mr Vishal Amin, Associate Director for Policy in the Office of the US Co-ordinator for International IP Enforcement, there is an integral link between economic success and IP protection.

Highlighting the dramatic impact of lack of IP protection in many countries around the world, he said: "Our competitive advantage is only as good as our ability to protect our ideas."

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