MUSCAT -- "Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) are the cornerstone of a knowledge-based economy, and protecting IPR is essential to attracting foreign direct investment in Oman. Oman already is doing an admirable job addressing IPR protection in the context of consumer safety. Counterfeit medicines and counterfeit spare auto parts have a direct negative impact on Omani citizens' lives and the government is taking action against those violators." This was stated by Paul Malik, Deputy Chief Mission at US Embassy to the Sultanate, while delivering his speech during the opening of the conference of "Protecting Your Intellectual Property Rights in Oman" held recently in Bahwan International Institute of Technology, Seeb.
"IPR is the currency of innovation as we need to know and enforce them to encourage and protect individuals and entities rights," he added emphasising that the United States is committed to its partnership with Oman and works in concert with the Government of Oman and the private sector to help Oman achieve its stated goal of generating jobs through increased trade and investment. He indicated that "a welcoming business climate is one of the prerequisites for investment, and strong IPR protection and enforcement is critical to creating that environment. IPR can be a strong driver of economic growth because IPR is the currency of innovation. Without IPR protection and enforcement no company can grow and succeed. More needs to be done for intellectual property rights holders on products and services that do not directly affect the health of the Omani public. IPR violations in software, or copyright, or trademark are not victimless crimes and need to be pursued as vigorously as those with a public health and safety element" pointing that Oman has an obligation under its Free Trade Agreement with the United States to uphold and protect all intellectual property, just as the United States would enforce all Omani IPR.
From his side, Jonathan Cooper, Treasurer of the Board of Directors at Oman American Business Council, indicated that IPR makes business easier in Oman through regulatory laws that organises this process. He gave a brief about the Council "Muscat ABC is non-profit organisation. It has been formed to foster the development of commercial activity between the United States of America and the Sultanate of Oman. It promotes friendship, understanding and other matters of mutual interest between the US business communities in and the individuals of the Sultanate," stressing the same point on the importance of IPR which forms an essence to innovate and protect business in any nation.
© Oman Daily Observer 2014
