The International Investors Association (YASED) has again called on the government to take “urgent measures” to improve the country`s poor standing with respect to intellectual property rights (IPR) protection. 

Doing so, the organization says, would dramatically improve the country`s present lackluster ability to attract foreign investment to the country.

The latest call from the organization came following the release of the World Economic Forum`s “The Global Competitiveness Report 2009-2010,” which slammed Turkey for its poor track record on protecting intellectual property rights, placing it among the bottom quarter of countries globally.

Among the 133 countries evaluated in the report, Turkey ranks 89th in “property rights” and 105th in “intellectual property protection.” According to the report, in a section dealing with “institutions,” Turkey did not have any discernable “competitive advantages,” yet had a high number of “competitive disadvantages.” Turkey ranked 95th in “favoritism in decisions of government officials,” 108th in “organized crime” and 125th in “efficacy of corporate boards.”

“All these data and evaluations have confirmed once again that the country is compelled to take urgent action regarding the ‘pending` laws and regulations on the intellectual and industrial property rights issue,” said Dr. Mete Hüsemoğlu, YASED deputy chairman and the board member responsible for IPR issues. Jeffrey Kemprecos, YASED IPR working group co-chairman, said Turkey`s lack of respect for IPR is one of the principal reasons behind Turkey`s failure to attract sufficient international investment. “Investors, private sector [international investors] view intellectual property as a bedrock condition for investments and technology transfer. The report places Turkey very low down on the list,” he told Today`s Zaman.

A press release by YASED in response to the report read, “The fact that Turkey ranks 74th among 133 countries in ‘utility patents,` the ranking in the ‘innovation` column of the same index is yet another indication of our disadvantageous position in intellectual property rights.” There are seven data sub-columns that constitute the innovation column of the report. Whereas Turkey displays a “competitive advantage” by ranking 46th in the “capacity for innovation” column, the country is disadvantageous with regard to the other six sub-columns. “We continue to punch below our weight in investment. And one of the reasons is ongoing concerns about intellectual property enforcement and legislation,” Kemprecos said, adding that “there is a direct correlation between high levels of modern FDI [foreign direct investment] legislation and the enforcement of IPR.”

In apparent reference to a new patents law that is presently under review by a parliamentary sub-committee, IPR infringement penalties are likely to be reduced, Hüsemoğlu said, adding that “the legislative actions to be taken in connection with industrial rights -- in particular draft acts on trademarks and patents -- should comply with our country`s international commitments and should not include any provisions that would amend current legislation ‘backwards.` Furthermore, urgent steps should be taken to solve existing problems by fighting copyright violations and counterfeit and contraband commercial goods.”

      Source: Today’s ZAMAN