Question : Intellectual Property Rights

(a) whether the Union Government has signed any Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for cooperation on capacity building, Human Resource Development and awareness generation in the field of Intellectual Property Rights and if so, the details thereof, country-wise including the number of cases of patents pending abroad;

(b) whether there is a need for recognising the importance of modernisation of Intellectual Property Offices in the country and if so, the schemes implemented by the Union Government for Modernisation and Strengthening of Intellectual Property Offices;

(c) whether there is a proposal to amend all the legislations related to patents, designs, trademarks and geographical indications to comply with India’s International obligations under the Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS); and

(d) if so, the details thereof along with the steps taken by the Union Government in this regard?

???????? ??? ?????? ???????????? (????????? ??????)(??????? ??????? ???????)
THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE)
OF THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY
(SHRIMATI NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

(a): The Government of India has signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) / Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) for cooperation in the field of Intellectual Property Rights. At present, the MoUs/ MoCs signed with World Intellectual Property Organization, South Centre (Switzerland), European Patent Office, Japan Patent Office, United Kingdom Intellectual Property Office, Intellectual Property Office of Singapore and the Ministry of Economy, Finance and Industry, France are in operation.

As regards number of cases of patents pending aboard, no such information is maintained.

(b): Yes. The Scheme of Modernization and Strengthening of Intellectual Property Offices (MSIPO) has been implemented by the Government of India in this regard.

(c): The existing legislations related to patents, designs, trademarks and geographical indications are already compliant with India’s International obligations under the Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS).

(d): Question does not arise.
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