The IPA through the Intellectual Property Office of PNG (IPOPNG) administers the Trademarks Act, Chapter 385, Copyright and Neighboring Rights Act (2000) and the Patents and Industrial Design Act (2000).
Protections for intellectual property rights relating to the reproduction and sale of counterfeit and pirated products, particularly music and movies, are insufficient. Such counterfeit products are openly sold on the streets and in shops. Sales persist despite sporadic law enforcement action. Other counterfeit products that infringe on copyrights, patents, and/or trademarks are often imported from Asian countries and sold in PNG. Customs periodically seize such shipments, but there are significant gaps in their enforcement regime. Adequate protection for trade secrets and semiconductor chip layout design exists in law, and minimal infringements appear to occur. For additional information about treaty obligations and points of contact at local IP offices, please see WIPO’s country profiles at https://www.wipo.int/directory/en/
In any foreign market, companies should consider several general principles for effective protection of their intellectual property. For background, link to our article on https://www.trade.gov/protect-intellectual-property and https://www.stopfakes.gov/ for more resources.
Matthew Kohner, IP Attaché covering PNG
U.S. Embassy Bangkok
Foreign Commercial Service
GPF Witthayu Tower A, Room 302
93/1 Wireless Road, Patumwn
Bangkok,10330 Thailand
Office Phone: +66 2-205-5913
For more information, contact ITA’s Office of Standards and Intellectual Property Rights (OSIP) Director, Stevan Mitchell at Stevan.Mitchell@trade.gov.
For additional information on the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights, visit the U.S. Investment Climate Statement website.