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KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 20 (Bernama) -- The Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry launched a database system today, called the "Basket of Brand" (BOB), which will facilitate the listing of registered trademark owners.
Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the database would be used in detecting trademark infringements including those related to copyright, and in prosecuting the offenders.
Through the database, he said, the ministry would be able to prioritise on the investigations and seizure of items if the trademark owners agree to appear in court and help the prosecution prove copyright infringements.
Prior to this, he said, the ministry had problems in getting a conviction in such cases because trademark owners were unable to show proof of trademark ownership.
"Trademark owners should come forward to identify the infringed items and show proof of ownership," he said when opening the Intellectual Property Enforcement Convention at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, here.
So far, 74 brands have been registered under the scheme.
Ismail Sabri said 457 copyright infringement cases were detected from January to September this year involving the seizure of items worth RM9.62 million. A total 1,015 fake goods worth RM10.98 million were also seized during the period.
He also said that the ministry had set a Key Performance Indicator's target of reducing the number of premises selling fake goods by 50 per cent this year.
"Last year we managed to reduce the number of such premises by 35.43 per cent to 297 premises from 460, surpassing the target of reducing such premises by 30 per cent," he said.
The one-day convention where issues concerning enforcement of intellectual property laws were discussed, was attended by representatives of the optical disc industry, film and music associations, trademark owners, consumer associations and enforcement agencies.
Source: BERNAMA
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