New Delhi, December 04: Taking a significant step forward India’s journey towards becoming a major player in global innovation India, and the US have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Intellectual Property cooperation. 

 

 

 

The MOU has been signed between the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade(DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), Department of Commerce of the United States of America. It was signed virtually by DPIIT secretary Dr. Guruprasad Mohapatra and USPTO director Andrei Iancu on Wednesday (December 2), nearly 10 months after India’s Cabinet had given approval for the country to enter the MoU.

 

The MoU aims at increasing IP co-operation between the two countries. It will facilitate the exchange and dissemination of best practices, experiences, and knowledge on IP among the public, and between and among the industry, universities, research and development organizations, and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises.

 

The MoU provides for the exchange of information and best practices on processes for registration and examination of applications for patents, trademarks, copyrights, geographical indications, and industrial designs, as well as the protection, enforcement, and use of IP rights. It is also expected to encourage collaboration in training programs, exchange of experts, technical exchanges, and outreach activities.

 

It will also help in exchanging information between the experts, development, and implementation of automation and modernization projects. As well as the best ways to approach the registration processes and examine applications for patents trademarks, copyrights, geographical indications, and industrial designs, including the protection, enforcement, and use of IP rights.

 

The MoU will also ensure cooperation between the two countries to understand the issues in terms of traditional knowledge that include the databases and raise awareness on the usage of existing IP systems in order to protect the same traditional knowledge.

 

The two sides will draw up the Biennial Work Plan to implement the MoU which will include the detailed planning for carrying out the co-operation activities including the scope of action.

 

The MoU will go a long way in fostering the cooperation between India and the USA and provide opportunities to both countries to learn from the experience of each other, especially in terms of best practices followed in the other country. It will be a landmark step forward in India’s journey towards becoming a major player in global innovation and will further the objectives of the National IPR Policy, 2016.