Raising awareness about IPR

The issue of application and implication of intellectual property rights (IPR) in the developing world came up for discussion while I was gossiping with a fellow student of master's course in the university. According to that friend of mine, the realisation of such rights can only be possible in the developed countries. He is now a French Patent Attorney.
Bangladesh is one of the most promising developing countries. It has been prospering almost in every sector for the past 10-15 years though some abrupt political interruptions and interludes are present at all times.
Despite having proper domestic laws on intellectual property rights in place, the perception or awareness about IPR is bare minimum among our industrialists and manufacturers. I have gained a little experience from the Bangladesh Electrical Merchandise Manufacturers Association in terms of their understanding and practice of upholding the intellectual property rights.
The biggest impediment to upholding IPR the association faces is the ignorance about such rights among most of the manufacturers. Some are also reluctant to exercise such rights as the process is dawdling.
Being a part of our family business (registered) which has been manufacturing electrical products (i.e. switch, socket, regulator, ceiling rose, etc.) with good name and fame since 1997, I have seen the hard time when there appeared a company under the same business name that we own.  'Trademark' issue is apparently ignored in our business sector. You will find many business establishments having the same name in Nawabpur electric markets and elsewhere in Bangladesh. It creates confusion in the mind of the consumers as to which product would they buy and which one would they not since the names are same.
One of the main problems is the painstaking registration process of a company or a business name. It is undeniable that being a developing country Bangladesh has so many obstacles to upholding the rights of intellectual property. But creating awareness with individual effort at the grass-root level does not perhaps cost much.
The writer is Diploma-in-Law , University of London, UK, Bachelor of Laws (LL.B Honours), University of London, UK and Master of Laws (LL.M Commercial Law), University of Huddersfield, UK. [email protected]