Finally, India decides to sign the patents treaty
INDIA will sign the Paris convention for the protection of intellectual property and the patent cooperation treaty. For more than a decade, there has been a debate in India whether it should accede to the convention. This is a significant development, as India has for long resisted recognising global intellectual property rights.
After becoming a signatory, India will also have to sign a host of other treaties for the mutual protection of a range of intellectual property, including trademarks and industrial designs. Indian officials are also hoping that the decision will "improve the industrial climate" and encourage more research and development investment in India, by domestic and foreign companies.
Praveen Anand, a patent lawyer, says: "It is a major change in attitude." The new attitude stems partially from an incident last year in which a us company, RiceTce, filed a patent for a new strain of rice which they called basmati rice. Indians reacted angrily over the use of the word basmati. They said that the word basmati should be used only to refer to a particular strain of rice cultivated in a particular area in south Asia.
The government has said that membership of the Paris convention would enable Indian companies to apply for patent protection in India and each of the convention's other 146 member countries with a single application. As a signatory, India would be a more attractive destination for multinational companies to set up research and development facilities. Government officials say that being a member of the treaty would relieve pressure on India's own patent offices by giving them access to the reports of international patent office when examining applications.
We are a voice to you; you have been a support to us. Together we build journalism that is independent, credible and fearless. You can further help us by making a donation. This will mean a lot for our ability to bring you news, perspectives and analysis from the ground so that we can make change together.
.png)
Comments are moderated and will be published only after the site moderator’s approval. Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name. Selected comments may also be used in the ‘Letters’ section of the Down To Earth print edition.