In order to provide brand protection and curb duplication of products, IT, pharma, electronics, telecom and electrical goods manufacturing giants are approaching private detectives to safeguard them against Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) violation.
“A number of global firms have approached us seeking help to stop IPR infringement. Companies are really taking the issue seriously. We expect the number to grow further,” said Kunwar Vikram Singh, president, Association of Private Detectives of India.
To strictly deal with such “modern crimes” they have formed a separate wing of professionals including former officers from intelligence agencies.
“We have qualified and efficient hands from all the sectors like automobile, electrical, electronics, medical and ITeS. They are an excellent mix of technological and investigation skills,” said Singh.
“We receive a number of complaints related to copying. From tea brands to fashion apparel, all are harmed by this. We are contacted by known fashion designers also, some of whom have formally lodged complaints and requested us to probe the matter,” he said.
However, police is also involved in the task. “After thorough probe on the complaints, we approach local police to help us in nabbing the culprits,” he said.
Private detectives say their services for probing such crimes do not come cheap. “It is very hi-tech job, which requires skilled manpower. We charge Rs 40,000 for the job,” Sanjay Singh, chairman of the Indian Detective Agency, said, adding that the charges vary with the amount of work.
“Surprisingly, India is now the latest target. A number of marginalised people living in our country prefer cheap goods. This has become one of the major causes behind promotion of counterfeiting of products,” Singh adds.
Detective agencies have also been approached by national and international industry associations to extend help for safeguarding their products.
“Every year, we attend national and international seminars organised by confederations of industry. They are really worried about protecting their brands,” he said.
According to an ongoing study commissioned by the Ministry of Human Resource Development, the estimated losses due to piracy in motion pictures is 7.3 per cent, sound recordings and musical compositions 24.5 per cent, books 21 per cent, and the highest is in the software domain, reaching 292.8 per cent.
While recent trend of piracy has badly affected Indian film and musical industry, we are doing our best to bring this fake business to end, he added.
“Earlier, under the aegis of the Indian Fans Manufacturing Association, I was really surprised to note this trend. We found that there were small manufacturing units that were producing a number of duplicate fans by cleverly copying a company’s name. Unfortunately, their products were being sold at the price of original ones,” said a former member of the Indian Fans Manufacturing Union, on condition of anonymity.
To recommend improvements in the working of the Intellectual Property (IP) regime in India in terms of IT enabling and networking of operations and enhancing human resource capabilities, the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industries (Ficci) and Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, have also joined hands to set up a working group.
DIPP has taken note of Ficci’s recommendations and it has been decided to digitise all the patents granted till date and open it up for online public access.
