On the eve of World Intellectual Property Day 2013, FICCI in association with Intellectual Property India (IPI) and Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion (DIPP) recently organised a conference on 'IP Creation, Protection & Exploitation: A Way Forward' in Delhi.

While addressing the conference, Saurabh Chandra, secretary, DIPP, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, said that recently, India has acceded to Madrid Protocol which allows Indian companies to register their trademarks in 89 countries by filing a single application. India also made a breakthrough in the field by issuing the first compulsory license and not permitting evergreening.

India today is a $2 trillion economy which experienced GDP growth of eight per cent in the past. It could become a $16 trillion economy, the current size of the US, if it grows consistently at eight per cent for the next 30 years. This can be achieved only if manufacturing growth exceeds GDP growth. Alongside a robust IPR regime would be required to fuel innovation.

However, he pointed out that there is a public discourse around issues concerning IP particularly, patents, evergreening, compulsory licensing, patent linkages and data exclusivity. The IP offices in India are closely looking at these issues. The government, he said, recognises the importance of IP offices but manpower is a major constraint with a high rate of attrition The IP offices need more youngsters who show interest in this field and understand this sensitive and complex job.

Chaitanya Prasad, controller general of Patents, Design and Trademark, Government of India, underlined, “The IP policy of our country is in tune with the international agreements like TRIPS, PCT, WTO and Doha declaration and, at the same time, provides room for protecting the interest of the country using the flexibilities offered. Our IP regime enables the country to leverage the value of its own intangible assets, such as local culture and local agricultural products for which protection of plant varieties/geographical indications is available. Further, we have the Biodiversity Act to keep a watch on likely misappropriation of our natural and biological resources. Similarly, through the use of TKDL for prior art search, we seek to prevent patenting of our traditional knowledge internationally.”

Prasad pointed out that it is still a major concern that domestic patent filing is not reaching the expected mark in India when we compare the same with other major countries. Although domestic filing of patents is increasing in number, the percentage with respect to the total filing remains about 20 per cent. This seems to be due to lack of awareness among individuals, industries, MSME, universities, R&D organisations and the public sector. “Awareness creation on intellectual property by making coherent efforts at all levels is necessary to be able to create and IP culture that encourages creativity and protection of IPRs.”

On this occasion FICCI, IPO and DIPP organised a debate competition on IP related issues for school and college students. The winners were felicitated by Chandra and Prasad.

Narendra K Sabharwal, chairman FICCI IP Committee & former deputy director general, WIPO, remarked that the conference outlined an ambitious roadmap for future development of IP regime and establishing a friendly ecosystem which will help in utilising IP’s full potential for accelerating country’s growth. He said that there is a close inter-linkage between growth and innovation. Post 2008 economic crisis there was a decrease in the number of filing of patents, trademark. However, 2010 onwards, the filing of patents and trademarks the world over witnessed an upward surge outstripping economic recovery.