Question : Review of IPR

(a) whether India’s stance on the Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) has been globally criticised by many countries/companies and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;

(b) whether the Government proposes to review/strengthen the IPR and if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government has agreed to create a working group with the United States of America to review the IPR issues, if so, the details thereof; and

(d) whether the Government is aware that global pharmaceutical industry has been apprehensive about venturing into the Indian market due to IPR issues and if so, the details thereof and the corrective steps taken by the Government in this regard?

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

(a) & (b): While there may be differences of opinion on various aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) across countries and different interest groups, India has a TRIPS compliant balanced IPR regime. The Government takes steps as may be required to provide an IPR regime that serves to meet the developmental goals of India.
(c): A High level Working Group on Intellectual Property Rights has been constituted under the aegis of the India-US Trade Policy Forum. Discussions are held by the Group on various IP related issues for exchange of information and best practices leading to a better understanding of the IP regimes in both the countries.
(d): Venturing into markets is a business decision taken by any industry which depends on various factors. A comparative analysis of Foreign Direct Investment inflows into the drugs and pharmaceutical sector during the first three quarters of the financial years 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 reveals that the same has increased from US$ 351.58 million in this period of 2015-2016 to US$ 687.08 million in the corresponding period of 2016-2017.
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