Combating counterfeiters<\/p>\n
The United States Trade Representative, Mickey Kantor, cited
\nIndonesia as one of the countries which have markedly improved
\ncopyright protection, thereby escaping a special review with
\nregard to possible U.S. trade sanctions. However, Kantor's
\nannual report to Congress on Saturday showed that Indonesia
\nremains on the watch list, the lowest priority for targeted trade
\nsanctions.<\/p>\n
It was, we think, simply a coincidence that three days before
\nthe announcement of Kantor's annual report in Washington, State
\nSecretary\/Minister Moerdiono asserted in Jakarta the Indonesian
\ngovernment's stronger pledge to accelerate the fight against
\nviolations of intellectual property rights -- trademarks, patents
\nand copyrights.<\/p>\n
What Moerdiono -- in his capacity as the chief of the
\npresidential team set up in 1986 to coordinate the protection of
\nintellectual property rights -- announced in a special briefing
\nto reporters on April 26 was the results of his meeting with the
\nheads of government agencies related to the enforcement of
\nintellectual property laws.<\/p>\n
He said the enforcement of the laws would be strengthened by
\nstepping up raids on pirates, imposing harsher penalties on
\ncounterfeiters and banning the imports of counterfeit goods.<\/p>\n
There were two other important points raised by Moerdiono in
\nhis announcement. The first calls for expanding the training of
\nlaw enforcement officials and the second for the stepping up of
\ninformation campaigns to promote the public's awareness of the
\nneed to protect intellectual property rights.<\/p>\n
We think it is not a lack of political will, but rather a lack
\nof skilled law enforcers and the inadequate awareness on the part
\nof the general public that have been the major problems
\nencountered in the protection of intellectual property rights.<\/p>\n
The government has proven its political determination to
\nprotect intellectual property rights, as can be seen from the
\namendments to the old laws on patents, copyrights and trademarks
\nmade over the last few years. The government also is drafting
\nseveral new laws regarding the protection of intellectual
\nproperty rights to accommodate the latest developments in
\ntechnology and business practices and to comply with the rules of
\nthe World Trade Organization.<\/p>\n
Obviously, enacting laws is one thing and enforcing them is
\nquite another thing. First of all, the history of the
\nindustrialization process in Indonesia has been relatively short.
\nThe transformation of an attitude based on an agrarian economy in
\nwhich almost everything is considered a blessing from God, into a
\nway of thinking that is increasingly industry oriented takes
\ntime.<\/p>\n
Hence, the information campaign to increase the public's
\nawareness is quite essential. And so is the stepping up of
\ntraining to help law enforcers to comprehend and enforce the
\nlaws.<\/p>\n
We reckon the U.S. government has noted the seriousness of the
\ngovernment's stance regarding the protection of intellectual
\nproperty rights. That, we think, is the main reason why Indonesia
\nhas not been placed on the priority list of countries threatened
\nwith trade sanctions.<\/p>\n
That the enforcement of the laws has not been as effective as
\nexpected is understandable, in view of the objective reasons
\ncited above.<\/p>\n
In fact, as Moerdiono stated, the government is very committed
\nto accelerating the educational process and to strengthening law
\nenforcement by introducing tougher repressive measures and by
\nstepping up the training of law enforcers.<\/p>\n
We would be naive to deny that international pressure has
\nnothing to do with this drive, especially in view of the export-
\nled growth strategy of Indonesia's economic development.<\/p>\n
But the stronger motive, we think, is the government's
\nrealization that as the domestic industries become increasingly
\noriented to the manufacture of higher value added products, it
\nwould be in the country's own national interests to protect
\nintellectual property rights in light of stimulating homegrown
\ninnovations and attracting more technology and knowledge-
\nintensive foreign investment ventures.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/combating-counterfeiters-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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