Report Pirated Books, Films or Software to the FIA in Pakistan: Only Copyright Is on Its List

You can report pirated books, films, music or software to the FIA through its online complaint portal, complaint.fia.gov.pk, by choosing "Intellectual Property Rights Violations". The FIA's own page says only one IP law, the Copyright Ordinance, 1962, is on its schedule. Fake brand goods fall under the Trademark Ordinance, which the page says is not on the FIA's schedule.

We read the FIA's Intellectual Property Rights wing page, its home page and its complaint portal on 14 October 2026. The figures below are the FIA's own. We did not file a complaint.

The FIA acts on copyright, not on every IP law

The FIA's IPR page lists five relevant laws. It marks the Copyright Ordinance, 1962 as "on FIA schedule". It marks four others as not on the schedule: the Registered Design Ordinance, 2000, the Layout-Design of Integrated Circuit Ordinance, 2000, the Patent Ordinance, 2000 and the Trademark Ordinance, 2001.

That list sets the line. Copying a book, film, song or software program for sale is a copyright matter. A shop selling a fake logo on shoes is a trademark matter. For trademark and patent disputes, the page names the Intellectual Property Organization of Pakistan (IPO-Pakistan) as the body that manages the IP offices and coordinates enforcement through the police, the FIA and customs.

If you own the work, first confirm what you hold. The steps to register a copyright in Pakistan and to register a trademark show what proof each gives you.

The FIA says it has registered 1,062 cases since 2005

The page gives a short record. It says the FIA registered 1,062 IPR cases since 2005, arrested more than 1,363 violators, and recovered 13.4 million pirated CDs and DVDs and 227,420 pirated books. These are the agency's claims, with no year of update on the page.

The numbers show that the wing has acted mostly on physical copies. We found nothing on the page about online piracy, such as a leaked course on a messaging group. For a copied YouTube video, the platform's own system is usually quicker, and our guide to a YouTube copyright strike explains how strikes work.

File through the FIA complaint portal

The portal home page offers two choices: Report a Complaint and Give Feedback. The complaint form lists "Intellectual Property Rights Violations" among its crime types. The full steps for the portal are in our guide to the FIA online complaint form. Here are the points that matter for piracy.

1. Open complaint.fia.gov.pk and choose Report a Complaint.
2. Enter your name, CNIC, phone and address.
3. Choose the city where the copies are sold and the type Intellectual Property Rights Violations.
4. Describe the shop or seller, the titles being copied and your proof of ownership.
5. Attach one file, such as a photo of the pirated item or your registration paper.
6. Submit, then save the reference number to check the status later.

The FIA home page also lists the helpline 051-111-345-786 and 1991, and the email complaints@fia.gov.pk. Our guide to the portal says it accepts one file of up to 2 MB. If your evidence is larger, send a short summary and ask where to send the rest.

Good evidence makes a complaint easier to act on. Note the shop name, the market, the date you saw the copies, and the exact titles. If you can buy one copy safely, keep the receipt. Do not confront the seller yourself, because that can warn them and put you at risk.

Cases go to magistrates and civil judges

The FIA page names the courts for IPR cases: the Special Judge (Central), Senior Civil Judge, Civil Judge, Judicial Magistrate and the Allaqa Magistrate of the district. That tells you a case is not heard in a special tribunal. It is heard in ordinary courts in the district where the offence happened.

A complaint does not guarantee a raid. We found no promise of a response time. Keep copies of everything you send. If you own the work, keep your proof of creation, such as drafts, dates and a registration paper, in one folder.

Common questions about reporting piracy to the FIA

Can I report pirated software to the FIA?

Yes, if it is a copyright matter. The FIA page puts the Copyright Ordinance, 1962 on its schedule, and the portal lists Intellectual Property Rights Violations as a complaint type.

Does the FIA handle fake branded goods?

Its page says the Trademark Ordinance, 2001 is not on the FIA schedule. For fake brand goods, ask the IPO-Pakistan or the police which office acts, because the page lists them as enforcement bodies.

Is there a fee to complain?

We found no fee on the portal or the FIA page. The portal's own wording says information is treated in confidence and used for official processing.

Do I need to register my copyright first?

The FIA page does not say so. Registration still helps you prove ownership, so keep a registration paper or dated drafts ready.

Which courts hear piracy cases?

The FIA lists the Special Judge (Central), Senior Civil Judge, Civil Judge, Judicial Magistrate and the Allaqa Magistrate of the district.

How we verified this

What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.

Last checked 14 October 2026. The law list, the case figures, the court list and the IPO-Pakistan description come from the FIA's Intellectual Property Rights page. The complaint types and the helpline come from complaint.fia.gov.pk and the FIA home page. The page carries no date for its figures. We have not filed a complaint and do not know how long the FIA takes to act.