Kathmandu, Oct. 24 -- Unauthorised use of trademarks of multinational and national brands has been increasing by the day due to weak enforcement of laws, raising concerns among foreign companies wishing to enter the Nepali market.

The Department of Industry said it received 54 complaints related to trademark infringement in just the first three months of the current fiscal year which began mid-July.

"Trademark infringements are rising by 20 percent annually," said Dipak Ghimire, under-secretary at the legislation department of the Department of Industry. "This is outrageous."

For those bearing the brunt of infringement, confusion among their customers eventually caused a loss of revenue and damage to brand reputation. Lookalike product...