Area of Practice

Intellectual Property

Quick answer

Trademarks, copyright, patents and enforcement against infringement. Irfan Mir Halepota & Associates represents clients in this area before the relevant Karachi courts and tribunals.

A brand or invention is only as protected as the filings behind it. We handle IP registration end to end and, when a mark or product is being copied, move quickly on opposition, rectification and infringement action — areas where delay measurably weakens a client's position. For a full walk-through of the process, fees and timeline specifically, see our dedicated page on trademark registration in Pakistan.

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What this covers

Trademark search, filing and prosecution
Copyright registration and protection
Patent and industrial design filings
Opposition and rectification proceedings
Infringement and passing-off litigation
Licensing, franchising and IP strategy

Where we appear

Intellectual Property Organization of Pakistan (IPO-Pakistan)
Intellectual Property Tribunals
High Court of Sindh
Supreme Court of Pakistan (further appeal from IP matters)

Forum selection and limitation periods are often decided in the first conversation about a matter — the earlier we're involved, the more options remain open.

Best lawyer for intellectual property disputes in Karachi — what "best" should mean

When clients search for the best IP lawyer in Karachi or the top trademark lawyer in Pakistan, what they actually need is someone who can tell them, in the first conversation, which of four separate statutes governs their problem — because the answer changes the forum, the timeline and the remedy available.

The four IP statutes, and which one applies

Trade Marks Ordinance, 2001 (as amended 2023) — brand names, logos, slogans, and other marks distinguishing goods or services. Administered by IPO-Pakistan; disputes go to the Intellectual Property Tribunal.
Copyright Ordinance, 1962 — arises automatically on creation of an original work; protection lasts the author's lifetime plus 50 years. Registration is not mandatory but strengthens enforcement.
Patents Ordinance, 2000 — inventions meeting the statutory tests of novelty, inventive step and industrial application.
Registered Designs Ordinance, 2000 — the visual appearance of a product, distinct from how it functions.

All four are administered by IPO-Pakistan, but each has its own registration process, term of protection, and enforcement mechanism. Treating them as one undifferentiated "IP registration" service is where generic guidance goes wrong.

Enforcement: what the Intellectual Property Tribunal can actually order

Since the Intellectual Property Organization Act, 2012, specialised IP Tribunals hold exclusive jurisdiction over infringement and IP-related offences — general civil courts no longer hear these cases in most of the country. Once infringement is established, a Tribunal (or, for high-value Sindh matters, the High Court of Sindh exercising original jurisdiction) may order:

Prohibitory injunctions restraining continued use of the infringing mark or work, including ex parte relief granted without notice to the infringer where the infringement is blatant and delay would cause irreparable harm
Damages or an account of profits — the infringer's wrongful gains, not only the owner's loss
Delivery up, destruction or obliteration of infringing goods, packaging, labels, moulds and promotional material
Criminal prosecution running alongside the civil claim — the Trade Marks Ordinance criminalises trademark misuse with penalties triable together with related Pakistan Penal Code offences

An order of the Tribunal may be appealed to the relevant High Court within thirty days.

Karachi's distinct position: high-value suits

Because Karachi is Pakistan's commercial hub, civil suits relating to IP infringement valued above a statutory threshold can be filed directly before a single judge of the High Court of Sindh exercising original jurisdiction, rather than before the Tribunal. Whether a given dispute should go to the Tribunal or the High Court is a jurisdictional question worth getting right at filing — the point has itself been the subject of appellate litigation, and getting it wrong costs time that cannot be recovered.

Customs recordation: stopping counterfeits at the border

A registered proprietor may give written notice to the Collector of Customs to treat infringing goods as prohibited goods. Customs officials are separately required to report suspected infringement to the Directorate of IP Rights Enforcement under rules added to the Customs Rules, 2001 (SRO 170(I)/2017). For a brand facing imported counterfeits, this is usually the highest-leverage single step available — intercepting goods at entry is far easier than recovering them once they reach the market.

File before you trade

Pakistan operates on a first-to-file basis for trademarks. Years of genuine use do not defeat a competitor who registers first. A brand that trades, advertises or appoints distributors before filing leaves a window for opportunistic registration by someone else — expensive and slow to unwind. See our dedicated page on trademark registration in Pakistan.

Common questions

How long does trademark registration take in Pakistan?

It depends on whether the mark is opposed after publication and how the examiner treats the class of goods or services. We run a clearance search before filing to flag likely objections early rather than after they cost you time.

Someone is using a name similar to ours — what can we do?

If your mark is registered, infringement action is the direct route; if it isn't yet, passing-off may still be available based on prior use and reputation. We assess evidence of use first, since that determines which claim is strongest.

Who is the best lawyer for trademark disputes in Karachi?

The right question is not "best" in the abstract but whether the lawyer can identify which of the four IP statutes governs your matter, whether it belongs before the IP Tribunal or the High Court of Sindh, and whether customs recordation is available to you. A lawyer who answers that in the first meeting, with the relevant provisions named, is doing the job properly.

Can I get an injunction without notifying the infringer first?

Yes, in appropriate cases. Ex parte relief is available where infringement is blatant and delay would cause irreparable harm or allow evidence to be destroyed — the Copyright Ordinance provides for this as of right under Section 60-A, and Tribunals commonly grant it for trademark matters on the same footing. It is not a matter of right in every case and cannot be appealed except where compelling reasons and time-sensitivity are shown.

Does copyright need to be registered to be protected?

No. Copyright arises automatically on creation of an original work and lasts for the author's lifetime plus 50 years. Registration with the Copyright Office is not mandatory, but it creates an official record that materially strengthens enforcement and evidentiary proof of ownership.

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Related areas of practice

For International Law Firms

Referral Partnership

We work with law firms outside Pakistan whose clients need trademark protection here. Firms that commit to referring at least 10 trademark filings a year receive their first 5 trademark applications — including official IPO-Pakistan fees — at no cost, while we build the working relationship.

Discuss a Referral Partnership

Speak with an advocate about intellectual property

Tell us the facts of your matter and we'll advise on forum, timeline and next steps before you commit to anything.

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Official sources

Pakistan Code (federal statutes)