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US Chamber says India's patent protection not of global standards

Last Updated 10 February 2016, 21:14 IST

The US Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday released its 4th Annual International IP Index ‘Infinite Possibilities’. It measures the Intellectual Property environment in 38 economies, including India, which ranked No 37.

While the index found that India’s score was largely unchanged, patent protection in India remains outside of international best practices, it said. Indian law does not provide adequate enforcement mechanisms to effectively combat online piracy, it added.

 The index, produced by the chamber’s Global Intellectual Property Center (GIPC), places the United States in lead position, while Venezuela has finished last. Overall, half of the 38 economies improved their total score from last year’s index, indicating increased recognition of the benefits of intellectual property (IP) and a strong IP system.

The economies benchmarked in the 2016 index account for nearly 85 per cent of the global GDP. The index is based on 30 measurable criteria critical to innovation including, patent, copyright and trademark protections, enforcement, and engagement in international treaties, among others.

“This year’s index illustrates that many countries embraced the upward momentum in the global intellectual property environment, and continued to take steps to improve their IP systems,” said David Hirschmann, president and CEO of GIPC.

“While we have been encouraged by the Modi Administration’s rhetoric to improve India’s IP environment, we have yet to see it translate into concrete action. Nations like Thailand, which surpassed India in the rankings this year, provide an example of the way that incremental changes to a country’s IP framework can strengthen the overall IP ecosystem. All countries should look at the Index and incorporate the infinite possibilities that exist to improve their IP environment to encourage the next greatest innovation takes place on their soil,” he added.

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(Published 10 February 2016, 21:14 IST)

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