Intellectual Property Protection at Border

Protection of the property within the territory or across the border has equal significance. Laws of property are intended to protect owners of property against a variety of unlawful uses by the third parties. These laws include laws dealing with corporeal property and incorporeal or intangible property. Intellectual property comes under the later category. One of the objectives of making or manufacturing goods is trade and trade includes international trade also. In recent times, it is seen that international trade in pirated works and counterfeit goods is increasing at an alarming rate, causing substantial loss to the rights owner and the government. Thus, traditional customs laws need fortification. Similarly, intellectual property rights (IPR) dealing with copyright, patents and trademarks require introduction, substitution or amendment of new rules. These measures would enhance efficacy of existing regulations thereby enabling the authorities to arrest illegal trade across the border. This study is an analysis of the protection of IPR under the customs laws and IPR legislation. Global perspectives and the new Customs Rules of 2007 are also discussed.