India has jumped by one place in the sixth edition of the the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Global Innovation Policy Center’s (GIPC) ’ International Intellectual Property (IP) Index 2018.
- India has been ranked at 44th place among 50 nations with 30% score (12.03 out of 40). In the fifth edition of index India was placed at 43th position among 45 nations with a score of 25% (8.75 out of 35).
- Despite improvement in the score and ranking, India continues to remain towards the bottom of the ladder.
- According to the report India is improving in new parameters with new measures.
USA tops the list: The United States of America tops the list with 37.98 points, followed by UK (37.97) and Sweden (37.03).
Where India Improved
- India in July 2017 had issued ‘Guidelines on the Examination of Computer-Related Inventions’ which improved its patentability environment for technological innovations,
- Improved the protection of well-known marks,
- Holding IP awareness workshops and echnical training, programmes for enforcement agencies,
- Implementing key deliverables of the National Intellectual Property (IP) Rights Policy.
India’s key areas of weaknesses
- Limited framework for protection of life sciences IP,
- Patentability requirements outside international standards,
- Lengthy pre-grant opposition proceedings,
- Previously used compulsory licensing for commercial and nonemergency situations,
- Limited participation in international IP treaties,
- None participation in international PPH (Patent Prosecution Highway) tracks.
Basis of Ranking: The IP index analyses the intellectual property (IP) climate in 50 nations based on 40 unique parameters that benchmark activity critical to innovation development surrounding patent, trademark, copyright, and trade secrets protection.
