IP attorneys, agents in Nepal must seek continuing legal education, says Kathmandu lawyer
17 June 2022
Continuing legal education (CLE) is a must for all professionals, including intellectual property attorneys and agents, in order to improve Nepal’s IP system, according to Ram Chandra Subedi, founding and managing partner at Apex Law Chamber in Kathmandu.
The Nepali market abounds with IP infringement activities including the sale of counterfeit products. The rising sales of counterfeit goods even gets a boost from bribes paid to authorities to avoid prosecution. Unfortunately, such practice is commonplace in Nepal.
Filing of trademark, patent and design applications is still manual. IP enforcement remains weak and consumers lack awareness.
“IP officers should regularly get training on examination of patents, designs, trademarks and emerging issues, concept of intellectual property laws and others. They should get opportunities to attend seminars in an international scenario. It would be better to have direct connection between an IP office with the World Intellectual Property Organization, United States Patent and Trademark Office and others,” Subedi explained.
He added that awareness campaigns about IP should also be held widely in Nepal.
“Teenagers, shopkeepers and business organizations should be mobilized in awareness campaigns. There should be zero tolerance in bribery and corruption. There should be a separate unit in certain police stations to help enforcement in infringement issues,” Subedi said.
Espie Angelica A. de Leon
