INTERNATIONAL IP INDEX 2020

 The International IP Index 2020 has been released by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Global Innovation Policy Center (GIPC).

What is IIP index?

Released by GIPC, the Index evaluates the IP infrastructure in each economy based on 45 unique indicators, which are critical to the growth of effective IP systems.

The indicators encompass 8 categories of IP protection: patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, commercialization of IP assets, enforcement, systemic efficiency, and membership and ratification of international treaties.

Performance of India:

1. Ranked 40 out of 53 global economies.
2. Last year India was ranked at 36th position out of 50 countries.
3. India also continues to score well in the Systemic Efficiency indicator, scoring ahead of 28 other economies in these indicators.

Observations made on India:

1. Since the release of the 2016 National IPR Policy, the Government of India has made a focused effort to support investments in innovation and creativity through increasingly robust IP protection and enforcement.
2. Implementation of the policy has improved the speed of processing for patent and trademark applications, increased awareness of IP rights among Indian innovators and creators.
3. India has made significant progress towards establishing stronger IP protections—but the “job is not yet done”.
4. In 2019, the Delhi High Court used dynamic injunctions to disable access to copyright-infringing content online, resulting in an increase in India’s score on two of the copyright-related indicators. As a result, India scores ahead of 24 other economies in the copyright indicators.

Way ahead for India:

To continue this upward trajectory, much work remains to be done to introduce transformative changes to India’s overall IP framework and take serious steps to consistently implement strong IP standards.

GIPC has identified several challenges for India. Prominent among them being potentiality requirements, patent enforcement, compulsory licensing, patent opposition, regulatory data protection, transparency in reporting seizures by customs, and Singapore Treaty of Law of TMs and Patent Law Treaty.

Global performance:

Top five economies: The US, the UK, Sweden, France and Germany.

The need for protection of IP rights:

1. Intellectual Property Creates and Supports High-Paying Jobs.
2. Intellectual Property Drives Economic Growth and Competitiveness.
3. Strong and Enforced Intellectual Property Rights Protect Consumers and Families.
4. Intellectual Property Helps Generate Breakthrough Solutions to Global Challenges.
5. Intellectual Property Rights Encourage Innovation and Reward Entrepreneurs.