Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — The Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis has conceptually reviewed and approved, in its first reading, a bill aimed at strengthening intellectual property protection.

In recent years, Uzbekistan has been actively working to develop a unified state policy in this area, enhance legal awareness, and ensure the legitimate interests of rights holders. Amendments have been made to the Civil Code, the Law on Copyright and Related Rights, and the Law on Inventions, Utility Models, and Industrial Designs. Furthermore, the new edition of the Constitution (Article 53) enshrines legal protection for intellectual property.

However, the growing number of violations necessitates additional measures to protect the rights of authors, creators, and inventors. Over the past five years, cases of intellectual property infringement in business activities have risen sharply. In 2023 alone, more than 249 administrative cases related to illegal use of intellectual property were reviewed in court.

The bill proposes amendments and additions to the Criminal Code, Criminal Procedure Code, Administrative Liability Code, and Civil Code. The key changes focus on tightening penalties for violations of copyright, related rights, and industrial property rights.

The adoption of this bill will help curb counterfeit goods, increase legal accountability among businesses, and foster a culture of respect for intellectual property.

The bill has been approved in its first reading.