India, USA sign MoU on Intellectual Property cooperation

The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), under India’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to facilitate cooperation in areas of intellectual property.

December 3, 2020

A virtual ceremony was held between DPIIT and USPTO to sign the landmark MoU

The MoU will enable the sharing of knowledge and expertise between IP industry stakeholders

It will encourage training, research and development programs for the enhanced protection of IP rights of citizens and companies

Furthering objectives outlined in the National IPR Policy, 2016, the MoU will help India in becoming a global innovation hub

India’s Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) and the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to facilitate cooperation in areas of intellectual property (IP). According to a release from the Ministry of  Commerce and Industry on December 3, a virtual signing ceremony was conducted by the DPIIT and USPTO to bolster IP collaboration and cooperation between the two countries.

The MoU will broadly enable the mutually beneficial sharing of knowledge and expertise between IP industry stakeholders at every level. From exchanging information regarding patents, trademarks, copyrights, designs, and the protection, enforcement and use of IP rights, to leveraging vital insights on the development and implementation of automation and modernisation projects, the cooperation will serve as a catalyst for growth in IP frameworks across sectors. In addition, the MoU will oversee training initiatives and activities to encourage further research and development programs, the sharing of best practices, and the protection of citizen and company IP rights over the next 10 years.

Furthering the objectives outlined in the National IPR Policy, 2016, this MoU allows India to take a significant step forward in the journey towards establishing itself as a global innovation hub. Currently ranked 40th in the Global IP Index 2020, India has taken efforts to remain a global leader for the creation and use of IP assets for SMEs. According to the index, India’s key strength areas in IP domain include strong efforts to combat copyright piracy through 2019, precedent-setting case law on online trademark infringement and damages, new pilot patent prosecution highway (PPH) programme and generous R&D along with IP-based incentives. The 2016 National IPR Policy, ensured that the Indian government focussed on supporting investments in innovation and creativity through increasingly robust IP protection. Subsequently, implementation of the policy has resulted in improving rates of patent and trademark pendency, enabling a greater awareness of IP rights among Indian innovators.

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