The Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis has adopted a bill in its first reading aimed at strengthening the protection of intellectual property in Uzbekistan, as reported by the parliament's press service.
Over the past five years, due to the growing scale of intellectual property use by entrepreneurs and illegal activities by some business representatives, there has been a significant increase in violations in this area.
In particular, in 2023, courts reviewed more than 249 cases of administrative offenses related to the protection of intellectual property rights.
The press service of the Ministry of Justice revealed details of the bill. Among them:
- increased administrative fines for violations of copyright and related rights;
- introduction of administrative liability for infringement of plant breeders' rights;
- confiscation of items used in violation of patent rights as an additional measure of administrative sanction;
- introduction of criminal liability for violations of the property rights of intellectual property owners;
- seizure and destruction of counterfeit goods produced under a trademark at the expense of the offender.
Moreover, the justice authorities may be granted powers to inspect and seize counterfeit goods.
It is also proposed to strengthen criminal liability measures for violations of the personal non-property rights of authors and to expand the range of intellectual property objects whose infringement would entail liability.
The Ministry of Justice noted that the adoption of the bill would serve to protect intellectual property rights, prevent the circulation of counterfeit goods, increase the flow of foreign investments, and accelerate Uzbekistan's accession to the WTO.
Earlier, Spot reported that Uzbekistan plans to introduce proactive age pensions.