Legal News & Updates

World IP day From Sialkot to the World

Observed annually on 26th April, World Intellectual Property day which is led by The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) highlights the importance of intellectual…

UAE, Qatar, Bahrain Extend POA Deadlines

The trademark offices in the UAE, Qatar, and Bahrain have introduced a procedural update aimed at improving service delivery, particularly where applicants face delays…

UAE TMO Launches AI Powered Logo Generator

In a bid to streamline Intellectual Property related services, UAE Trademark Office (TMO), at the helm of Ministry of Economy and Tourism (MOET) has…

Tribunal Upholds CCP's Findings on Deceptive Marketing Practices Involving Strepsils

The Competition Appellate Tribunal (CAT) has upheld the finding of the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) against Reckitt Benckiser Pakistan Limited for deceptive marketing…

The Nice Classification 13th Edition

The Nice Classification is an international classification system adopted by over 150 countries worldwide to classify trademarks into 45 classes of goods and services.…

State Bank Pakistan Reopens Doors to Crypto Banking After Eight Year Ban

After eight years, the State Bank of Pakistan has lifted its long-standing restrictions on crypto-related banking activities, marking an important shift in the country’s…

Sri Lanka's National Intellectual Property Office (NIPO) Launches Online Database

In a world of artificial intelligence, digitization, and digital transformation, revamping and modernizing outdated mechanical systems is not merely a formality but a necessity.…

Pakistan's IP Landscape Sees Increased Focus on Enforcement and Industry Collaboration

Intellectual Property protection remains an important area of focus in Pakistan, with recent developments showing greater engagement between regulatory authorities, businesses, and enforcement bodies.…

Pakistan's Copyright Amendment Bill 2026 A Step Forward

Background and purpose: Pakistan has introduced the Copyright Amendment Bill 2026, signaling a move to bring its copyright framework more in line with how…

Pakistan Citizenship Amendment Act 2026

The National Assembly of Pakistan has formalized an important clarification to Pakistan’s citizenship framework through the Pakistan Citizenship Amendment Act, 2026. While the amendment…

Jurisdictional update in UAE, Egypt & Algeria

UAE Removal of Registration Certificate Requirement for Post Registration Procedures The UAE Ministry of Economy has simplified trademark post-registration procedures by removing the requirement…

Hong Kong Advances Ambitions to Become a Regional IP Trading Hub

Hong Kong has announced a number of initiatives aimed at strengthening the commercialization, valuation, and financing of Intellectual Property assets as it continues efforts…

Global IP Sweep on Labubu Counterfeits

Pop Mart has picked up a quiet but important win in China, with a court awarding around RMB 10,000 in damages against a seller…

DRAP Amends Drugs (Labeling and Packaging) Rules 1986 Mandatory Bar-coding and Serialization Framework Notified

The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has issued S.R.O. 963(I)/2026, dated 9 June 2026, finalizing amendments to the Drugs (Labeling and Packing) Rules,…

Pakistan's Copyright Amendment Bill 2026: A Step Forward

China's Supreme Court Establishes First Judicial Guidance on Patent Inventorship Standards

China's Supreme People's Court (SPC) has handed down its first publicly available decision addressing how inventorship should be determined under Chinese patent law, giving…

China's IP Trade Surges to $59B

China’s intellectual property royalties trade reached a staggering 425.35 billion Yuan ($59 billion) last year, marking a 6.7% annual increase. What stands out even…

ByteDance's Seedance 2.0

ByteDance's Seedance 2.0 has stretched the digital contours of the artificial intelligence landscape. Recently launched, this AI video-making tool has been used by millions…

DRAP Amends Drugs (Labeling and Packaging) Rules 1986: Mandatory Bar-coding and Serialization Framework Notified

Appeal Against Decree of Intellectual Property Tribunal

The appeal was dismissed, and the impugned judgment and the decree of the Intellectual Property Tribunal, Lahore, declaring Messrs. DEPILEX (PVT). LTD., through Chief…

Maldives Enacts New Trademark Act Marking a Major Shift in IP Protection

The ratification of the Trademark Act (Law No. 19/2025) by H.E. President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu on 11 November 2025 marks a significant milestone in…

Judgment of the Registrar of Trade Marks Appealed Before the Sindh High Court, Karachi, Pakistan

Appellant: Abdul Wasim Respondents: Messrs NTN Corporation and another Decision: Appeals Dismissed as no illegality or apparent error is found in the impugned order…

IP Tribunal's Order Granting Injunction Challenged in Appeal Before High Court, Lahore

Petitioner: MUHAMMAD WAHEED Respondents: ADNAN RIAZ and others Decision: Appeal Allowed, setting aside the impugned order of the Tribunal The Petitioner filed an appeal…

Deceptive Marketing Practices - Dissemination of False and Misleading Information to Consumers

Complainant: M/s Reckitt Benckiser Pakistan Ltd. Respondent: M/s Unilever Pakistan Limited Decision: The Respondent was directed to cease deceptive marketing, include clear disclaimers in…

Constitution Petition Dismissed Being Devoid of Merit

Petitioner: MEZAN BEVERAGES (PVT.) LIMITED through duly authorized Officer Respondent: COMPETITION COMMISSION OF PAKISTAN, through Chairman and 2 others Decision: Constitution Petition being devoid…

Competition Tribunal's Order Challenged in Appeal Before Supreme Court of Pakistan

Appellant: OPTIONS INTERNATIONAL (SMC-PVT.) LTD; through its CEO. Respondent: The COMPETITION COMMISSION OF PAKISTAN through Registrar and another. Decision: Appeal dismissed. The facts of…

Appeal Against Expunging Order Passed by Copyright Board in Rectification Proceeding

Appellant: MUHAMMAD AKRAM RAHI. Respondent: THE COPYRIGHT BOARD and others. Decision: Appeal allowed setting-aside the impugned order passed by the Copyright Board being without…

Suit for Threatening and Deceptive Marketing Along with Application for Injunction

Plaintiff: EAST RICE COMPANY (PVT.) LTD. and others Defendant: MOON RICE CORPORATION and others Decision: Application for injunction dismissed due to absence of basic…

Suit for Declaration and Injunction for Infringement of Copyright

Plaintiff: DOLLAR INDUSTRIES (PVT.) LIMITED, through Authorized signatory/Director and another Defendants: KAMRAN AKHLAQ Decision: The suit decreed as prayed The question before the court…

Revision Petition Allowed Against Order Passed by Addl. District Judge, Lahore

Petitioner: NESTLE PAK LIMITED, LAHORE through Authorized Signatory and another. Respondent: SHEHRYAR KURESHI and 3 others. Decision: Revision Petition allowed and judgment passed by…

Review Petition Filed After Ex-parte Decision

Petitioners: MUHAMMAD AURANGZEB and another. Respondents: ADDITIONAL DISTRICT JUDGE, RAWALPINDI and 3 others. Decision: Petition being bereft of any merits was dismissed in limine.…

Judgement of the Competition Appellate Tribunal Appealed in Supreme Court of Pakistan

Appellant: A. RAHIM FOODS (PVT) LIMITED and another. Respondent: K &N’S FOODS (PVT) LIMITED and others. Decision: Appeals Dismissed In this case, the Honourable…

Guidelines to Deal with Foreign Filing Permission (FFP) Requirement in Pakistan

Under the provisions of Section 26 of the Pakistan Patents Ordinance, 2000, residents of Pakistan are not permitted to file or cause to be…

Geographical Indications Journal

The GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATIONS e-Journal has been launched by the Intellectual Property Organization of Pakistan (IPO-Pakistan) and is now accessible on the IPO-Pakistan website at…

Deceptive Marketing Practice - Appeal Before Competition Appellate Tribunal

Appellant: Messrs. OPTIONS INTERNATIONAL (SMC PVT.) LIMITED Respondents: COMPETITION COMMISSION OF PAKISTAN and another Decision: Appeal Dismissed In this case the proceedings before the…

Deceptive Marketing Practice - 01 - 2024

Complainant: M/s DIAMOND PAINTS INDUSTRIES (PVT) LIMITED Respondent: M/s BERGER PAINTS PAKISTAN LTD. Decision: Deceptive Marketing Practices – Proceeding disposed as Respondent agrees to…

Conduct Disentitling a Party to the Grant of Discretionary Relief of an Injunction

Plaintiff: M/s HILAL FOODS (PVT.) LIMITED (FORMERLY HILAL CONFECTIONARY (PVT.) LIMITED) through Company Secretary, Karachi. Defendants: M/s DABUR INDIA LIMITED and 8 others. Decision:…

Complaint Filed with the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center for Domain Name Dispute

COMPLAINANT: MASTER ENTERPRISES (PVT.) LIMITED RESPONDENT: SUPPORT TEAM, IT SERVICES, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA DECISION: DOMAIN NAME TRANSFERRED IN THE NAME OF THE COMPLAINANT…

Appeal Against Injunctive Order Passed by IP Tribunal in Trade Mark Infringement Suit

Appellant: SAMSARA COUTURE HOUSE (PVT.) LTD; through Chief Executive and another. Respondent: Syeda KHADIJA BATOOL and 2 others. Decision: Appeal allowed setting-aside the injunctive…

Update - Madrid Protocol Applications Designating Pakistan

Pakistan became a member of the Madrid Protocol on February 24, 2021 which was ratified on May 24, 2021. Since then, approximately 5,000 trade…

Pakistan Signs Marrakesh Treaty

This Tuesday, Pakistan officially joined the Marrakesh Treaty, a significant international agreement focusing on ensuring the production and international transfer of specially adapted books…

Pakistan - New Rules for Design Registrations

The Federal Government repealed the Patents & Design Rules, 1933 and notified the new Registered Designs Rules, 2023 published in the Official Gazette Part-II…

NFTs and Metaverse Application in Intellectual Property Law in Pakistan

With the exponential growth of NFTs and Metaverse in Intellectual Property law, there has been an increase in the number of Trade Mark registrations…

Suit for Infringement of Trade Mark in the Sindh High Court

Plaintiff: HILAL FOODS (PRIVATE) LIMITED through Group Head Legal and Company Secretary. Defendant: DANPAK FOOD INDUSTRIES (PRIVATE) LIMITED through Director. Decision: Application for temporary…

Fraudulent Use of a Trade Mark, Product Labelling and Packaging

Complainant: M/s NAWABA OIL INDUSTRIES. Respondents: 1. M/s ALHAFEEZ OIL INDUSTRIES and 2. M/s MUSLIM CORPORATION. Decision: Deceptive Marketing Practices 1. (Respondent No.1)- Case…

Examination and Publication of International Trademark Applications Commenced in Pakistan

Pakistan joined the Madrid Protocol on 24th February, 2021 and ratified it on 24th May, 2021. The Trade Marks office has recently commenced examination…

Detained Goods Released - Action Without Infringement Validation from Competent Authority

DETAINED GOODS RELEASED – ACTION WITHOUT INFRINGEMENT VALIDATION FROM COMPETENT AUTHORITY APPELLANT: M/S NAFEES TRADERS, PESHAWAR. RESPONDENT: THE ADDITIONAL COLLECTOR –II, MCC APPRAISEMENT WEST,…

Deceptive Marketing Practice - 01 - 2022

Deceptive Marketing Practice Complainant: M/s Polygon Pakistan (Private) Limited Respondent: M/s Irshad Trading Corporation Decision: Deceptive Marketing Practices - Penalty Imposed M/s Polygon Pakistan…

Complaint Lodged Against Deceptive Marketing Practice - Penalty Imposed

Complaint lodged against Deceptive Marketing Practice – Penalty imposed Complainant: M/s EASTERN PRODUCTS (PVT.) LIMITED Respondent: M/s MASTER FOOD INDUSTRIES Decision: Deceptive Marketing Practices…

Civil Petition Converted into Appeal and Allowed

Petitioner: Muhammad Multazam Raza Respondent: Muhammad Ayub Khan and others Decision: Civil Petition before the Supreme Court of Pakistan against Dismissal of petitioner’s FAO…

Appeal Allowed and Application for Registration of Trade Mark Dismissed

Appellant: SHEZAN SERVICES (PRIVATE) LIMITED Respondent: SHEZAN BAKERS AND CONFECTIONERS (PRIVATE) LIMITED and another Decision: Appeal allowed and application for registration of trade mark…

Use of Mark by Former Distributor - Parallel Imports Permissible in Pakistan

Plaintiffs: SAMSONITE IP Holdings S.a.r.l. and another Defendant: FAMOUS BRANDS (PVT) LIMITED The Plaintiffs being joint owners of the world renowned marks, “Samsonite”, “American…

Trade Marks - Trade Dress Injunction Granted

Suit for damages and permanent injunction - Trade Marks Ordinance, 2001 Plaintiffs: J & P COATS LIMITED and another Defendant: GOLDEN THREAD INDUSTRIES High…

Trade Marks - Registrar of Trade Marks Not to Revise Deputy Registrar's Decision Subsequent to Opposition Proceeding

Appellant: PETROMARK (PRIVATE) LIMITED Respondent: REGISTRAR OF TRADE MARKS and another Decision: Appeal allowed In this case the Appellant, Petromark (Pvt) Limited, had filed…

Trade Marks - Digital Trade Marks Journal

On October 20, 2011 the Chairman Intellectual Property Organization of Pakistan (IPO-Pakistan) formally launched digital Trade Marks Journal. Digital Journal is now available at…

Trade Marks - Cross Suits for Permanent Injunction

CROSS SUITS FOR PERMANENT INJUNCTION AND MISC. APPLICATIONS FOR TEMPORARY INJUNCTION Plaintiffs: JAZAA FOODS (PVT.) LIMITED through Authorized Representative and another Defendants: JUNAID JAMSHED…

Trade Mark "LUNIMARC" Deemed Infringement of "LUMINARC"

Trade Marks - Appeal Allowed

EXPORT OF GOODS FROM PAKISTAN – GOODS SEIZED DURING CLEARANCE BY CUSTOMS OFFICIALS- HIGH COURT SET ASIDE ORDER PASSED BY IP TRIBUNAL AND ALLOWED…

Trade Mark LUNIMARC Deemed Infringement of LUMINARC

Plaintiff: ARC INTERNATIONAL through authorized signatory Defendants: AHMER MANSOOR and 2 others Decision: Injunction Granted The plaintiff, a French company was the owner of…

Trade Mark Infringement When There is a Registered Trade Mark - Absence of Registration No Infringement

Appellant: MUHAMMED AKHTAR AND BROTHERS through proprietor Respondents: Haji MUHAMMED NABI AND BROTHERS and another Decision: Appeal Allowed Respondent No.1 filed a suit before…

Trade Dress - Distinctive Feature of a Mark - Appeal Before the Divisional Bench, Sindh High Court

Appellant: HAMDARD LABORATORIES (WAQF) PAKISTAN, through Director Respondent: MUHAMMAD FAHIM Decision: Appeal Allowed The appellant preferred an appeal before a Divisional Bench of the…

Trade Dress - Colour, A Distinctive Feature of a Mark

Appeal before the Divisional Bench of the Sindh High Court Appellant: Golden Thread Industries Respondent: J & P Coats Limited and another Decision: Appeal…

Shape of a Pointer (Writing Instrument) Deemed Infringement of Registered Design

Plaintiffs: DOLLAR INDUSTRIES (PVT.) LTD. through Abdullah Feroz and another Defendants: NISAR TRADERS through proprietor and seven others Decision: Interim Injunction Granted The Plaintiffs…

Services of Same Description

Plaintiff: Jubilee Insurance Company Limited Defendant: United Insurance Company of Pakistan Limited Decision: Insurance business deemed to be similar to takaful business – temporary…

Registration of Trade Mark - Appeal Before Sindh High Court

Appellant: GETZ PHARMA INTERNATIONAL FZ LLC through Authorized Attorney Respondent: REGISTRAR OF TRADE MARKS and another Decision: Appeal Allowed, setting aside the Registrar’s decision.…

Registered Trade Mark with Disclaimer - Absence of Exclusive Right in the Word - No Infringement

Appellant: MUHAMMED ASHRAF alias MAKKHAN Respondents: MUHAMMED AKRAM Decision: Appeal Dismissed Appellant challenged the order of the Additional District Judge, Sheikhupura, dismissing its application…

Protection Against Infringement of Trade Mark - Appeal Before the Divisional Bench of the Sindh High Court

Appellant: NOVARTIS AG through Authorized Signatory Respondent: NABIQASIM INDUSTRIES (PRIVATE) LIMITED through Chief Executive/Director/Company Secretary and another Decision: Appeal Allowed In this case, the…

Patents - Suit for Perpetual Injunctive Relief After Acceptance of Complete

Plaintiff: Pfizer Products Inc., through Authorized Signatory and two others Defendant: Hilton Pharma (Pvt) Ltd., through Chief Executive / Director / Secretary / Principal…

Patents - Opposition Dismissed - Time Barred

Opposition to the grant of patent under Section 23 of the Patents Ordinance, 2000 Applicant: Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG Opponent: Pakistan…

Patents - Controller's Power to Extend Time is Restricted to Situations

Appellant: Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers’ Association and others Respondents: The Controller of Patents and others Decision: Appeals Dismissed Miscellaneous appeals were filed against a single…

Pakistan and The Madrid System

On February 24, 2021 Pakistan became the 108th member of the Madrid System after depositing its instrument of accession to the Madrid Protocol through…

Pakistan Starts Receiving International Trade Mark Applications Through Madrid Route from 24th May 2021

After the accession to the Madrid Protocol in February 2021, Pakistan is finally about to enter the system with effect from May 24, 2021,…

Opposition Against Registration of Trade Mark - Appeal Against the Decision of Registrar in the Sindh High Court

Appellant: M/s AHMAD TEA LIMITED Respondent: M/s AHMED FOODS INDUSTRIES (PVT) LIMITED through Secretary or Director or any Principal Officer and another Decision: Appeal…

License Expired - Use of Trade Mark by Licensee Deemed Infringement

Appellant: Malik Safdar Hussain Respondents: Irfan Ahmad and another Decision: Appeal Dismissed The respondent filed a suit for permanent injunction before District Judge, Gujrat;…

Invalidation of the Registered Trade Mark Entry in the Trade Marks Register

Petitioner: U.B. CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES COMPANY LIMITED. Respondent: AHMAD NAWAZ and OTHERS. Decision: C.O Application allowed- Trade mark registration No. 247291 dated 03-03-2008 declared invalid.…

IP Tribunals Established in Pakistan

Originally the Intellectual Property offices in Pakistan (The Patents Office, The Trade Marks Registry and The Copyright Office) were under the control of three…

Export of Goods from Pakistan - Deemed Use in Pakistan - Distributor Not Entitled for Registration of Trademark in its Name

Export of Goods from Pakistan – Deemed Use in Pakistan – Sale of Products through Distributor – Deemed Use of the Mark by the…

Deceptive Marketing Practice - 11 - 2021

Complainant: M/s SIBA Testing Services (SABA) Respondent: M/s Sukkur Testing Services (SMC-Pvt) Limited (STS) Decision: Deceptive Marketing Practices - Penalty Imposed The Complainant filed…

Deceptive Marketing Practice - 08 - 2021

Complainant: M/s Ferozesons Laboratories Limited Respondent: M/s Neucon Pakistan Decision: Deceptive Marketing Practices - Penalty Imposed The Complainant’s business operations consisted of manufacturing, importing,…

Deceptive Marketing Practice - 06 - 2016

Complainant: Agritech Limited Respondent: Tara Crop Sciences (Private) Limited Decision: Deceptive Marketing Practices - Penalty Imposed The Complainant was producing urea, phosphate and allied…

Deceptive Marketing Practice - 04 - 2021

Complainant: Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) institute Respondent: Society of Accounting Education Decision: Deceptive Marketing Practices - Penalty Imposed The Complainant provided education and training…

Date of Filing of Suit - Mark Not Registered - Different Businesses

Plaintiff: Rupali Polyester Limited – through Attorney Authorized Person Defendant: Baba China Builders & Developers and 6 others Decision: Injunction Refused The plaintiff was…

Customs - Detention of Infringing Goods - Chapter on IP Rights Enforcement - Customs Rules

Earlier this year the Government of Pakistan with a view to further strengthen border measures amended the Customs Rules, 2001 to incorporate a new…

Copyright - Suit for Permanent Injunction, Damages and Recovery of Possession

Appellants: HASSAN ZIA and another Respondents: Mrs. UMERA ARSAM and others. Decision: Appeal was partly allowed modifying the order to the extent that defendants…

Copyright - Images Uploaded at the Website of FOTOLIA LLC - DMCA Notice Sent - Images Removed

Copyright Notice sent to Copyright Agent of www.fotolia.com Applicant: Dollar Industries Pakistan Infringer: Fotolia LLC, USA Result: Images removed On behalf of Dollar Industries…

Copyright - Exclusive Right of Publication - Not More Than Ten Years

Appellant: SAFDAR HUSSAIN Respondents: Mst. NOSHI (NISHAT) GILLANI and others Decision: Appeal dismissed on merits Appeal was filed against the judgment and decree passed…

Copyright - Dichotomy Between Idea and Expression

Plaintiff: Muhammad Kashan Defendants: Coca Cola Corporation Pakistan Limited through Chief Executive Officer and 3 others Decision: Injunction Application Dismissed The question before the…

Application for Declaration of Invalidity of Trade Mark

Petitioner: ITALFARMACO S.P.A. Respondent: HIMONT PHARMACEUTICALS (PVT) LTD. Decision: C.M Application allowed- The application returned to the Applicant to be filed at appropriate forum.…

Appellant's Registered Design Dissimilar from Alleged Prior Art - Order of Single Judge Reversed

Appellant: DOLLAR INDUSTRIES (PVT) LTD. Respondent: BROTHERS INDUSTRIES Decision: Appeal Allowed Appellant was the registered proprietor of a pen design under No.12247-D dated May…

Pakistan - Geographical Indications (Registration and Protection) Act, 2020

The Government of Pakistan in March 2020 passed Act No. XVIII of 2020 to be called the Geographical Indications (Registration and Protection) Act, 2020…