Whither IP rights?

Even as intellectual property rights violations put off investors, they also often harm Nepali consumers.

The line between legitimate brands and their imitations is often blurred in Nepal. This infringement of brands ranges from copying logos and trademarks of global companies to other forms of duplication. Certain fraudulent businesses are leveraging the brand equity of globally known names for their benefit. As these products resemble well-known brands, companies copying them have to invest less in marketing and branding. The copycat products’ supply chain is strengthened, as many Nepalis rarely question their origin before buying. Despite being largely ignored or trivialised through short-lived social media humour in Nepal, these counterfeit goods or businesses have impinged on the country’s international image.