Government launches e-Copyright to protect Intellectual Property Rights

The Access to Information (a2i) Programme of the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) and the Bangladesh Copyright Office under the Ministry of Cultural Affairs jointly launched an 'e-Copyright system' on Wednesday, August 23, to make it easier for anyone to copyright their intellectual property. The programme, held at the PMO had Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor as chief guest. 

Traditionally, to apply for copyright of any creative work, one needed to come to the copyright office in Dhaka. There was knowledge gap among the applicants regarding which documents were required to be submitted along with their application. This created possibility for making mistakes in application requiring unnecessary visits to the office, thus adding up to the cost of application. Given the manual application process, the total process took between 30 to 40 days. There was no way to verify application with previously archived items which had already received copyright.

The Bangladesh Copyright Office used a2i's Service Innovation Fund to develop the 'e-Copyright' system using which any individual or institution from anywhere in Bangladesh can now apply online for copyright of literature, drama, music, records, paintings, movies, radio programmes, television programmes, softwares, etc. They can access the online application form in the website of Bangladesh Copyright Office at copyrightoffice.gov.bd. Once the application is processed, the applicant will receive an SMS mentioning date of delivery. This e-service is expected to encourage more application for copyright, and the creative-minded citizens of Bangladesh will have a better chance at protecting the intellectual property rights of their creations. 

The chief guest in his speech congratulated the a2i Programme and the Bangladesh Copyright Office. He requested the relevant entities to undertake necessary steps for promotion.

Senior officials from the PMO, Cultural Affairs Ministry, and copyright office were present at the ceremony. As a token of the launch, popular musician Ayub Bachchu and singer Elita Karim received certificates of copyright of their music at the ceremony.