India has improved its performance both in relative and absolute terms in the latest edition of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Global Innovation Policy Center’s (GIPC) International IP Index.
- This index analyses the intellectual property (IP) climate in 50 world economies based on 40 unique indicators that benchmark activity critical to innovation development surrounding patent, trademark, copyright, and trade secrets protection.
- India ranked 44th of 50 economies – a jump from 43rd of 45 economies one year ago, according to the sixth edition of the Index.
- For the first time, India has broken free of the bottom 10% of economies measured, and its score represents the largest percentage improvement of any country measured.
- As against 25% (8.75 out of 35) of the possible total score in the fifth edition, India scored 30% (12.03 out of 40) in the sixth edition, representing the largest percentage improvement of any country measured.
- The factors that helped India improve its score included passing guidelines to strengthen the patentability environment for technological innovations, improving the protection of well-known trademarks, as well as initiating IP awareness and coordination programs — thereby implementing some tenets of its 2016 National IPR Policy.
- Among key areas of weaknesses are limited framework for the 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 and no participation in international PPH (Patent Prosecution Highway) tracks.
- The US tops the list with 37.98 points, followed by United Kingdom (37.97) and Sweden (37.03)
