New IPR Policy: Commerce Minister Holds First Meeting With Stakeholders

New Delhi: Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday discussed with stakeholders various issues related with intellectual property rights (IPR) to outline the contours of the new policy.

"Had a brainstorming session with IPR stakeholders, experts and practitioners for a holistic IPR Policy," Ms Sitharaman said in a tweet.

On September 8, she had announced that the government will come out with a policy on intellectual property rights (IPRs) to make them more robust.

An official said that Monday's was the first meeting in which all the stakeholders, including government officials from different departments, academicians, IPR practitioners and professors participated.

"India does not have an IPR policy. This is the first time we are coming out with an IPR policy. IPR policy issues have been hanging for quite a long time," Ms Sitharaman had said.

By February-end or March, the trade ministry would prepare the draft IPR policy and put on the website for public comments, the official added.

The IPR policy would help modernise IP administration and offices; commercialisation of IP; collaboration between different departments including science and technology, and encourage innovation and enhance domestic filing of patents.

The policy also assumes significance in view of the issues being raised by developed countries such as the US.

Developed nations are picking holes in India's IPR laws because it does not have any policy, she said.

During the recent times, the Obama administration has been strongly criticising India's investment climate and IPR laws, especially in the pharmaceuticals and the solar sectors.

India has maintained that its IPR regime is fully compliant with WTO laws and it will not take part in any unilateral investigations by the US on the matter.