India signs the Final Act of the Riyadh Design Law Treaty

Syllabus: GS3/ Science and Technology

Context

• India has signed the Riyadh Design Law Treaty (DLT), reaffirming its commitment to fostering inclusive growth and strengthening its intellectual property (IP) ecosystem.

About

• The treaty, adopted after almost two decades of negotiations under the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
• The treaty seeks to harmonize the procedural frameworks for industrial design protection, improving the efficiency and accessibility of registration processes across multiple jurisdictions.
• It ensures that the benefits of streamlined design protection are accessible to all stakeholders, with particular emphasis on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), startups, and independent designers.

Key Provisions of the treaty

• The DLT introduces several key provisions aimed at benefiting design applicants, including;
  • Relaxed time limits and the reinstatement of lost rights, 
  • The option to correct or add priority claims, 
  • Simplified procedures for recording assignments and licenses, and 
  • The option to file multiple designs in a single application.
• The treaty encourages contracting parties to work towards implementing electronic industrial design systems and facilitating the electronic exchange of priority documents.

India’s initiative in safeguarding IPR

• National IPR Policy 2016 encompassing all IPRs into a single vision document setting in place an institutional mechanism for implementation, monitoring and review of IP laws.
  • The policy encourages innovation and creativity by providing stronger protection and incentives for inventors, artists, and creators. 
• Cell for IPR Promotion and Management (CIPAM): It has been set up to coordinate the implementation of the National IPR Policy.
• National Intellectual Property Awareness Mission (NIPAM), a flagship program to impart IP awareness and basic training in educational institutes.
• Scheme for Facilitating Startups Intellectual Property Protection(SIPP): it is introduced to foster innovation and entrepreneurship by providing a supportive ecosystem for startups to protect and manage their IP assets.

Concluding remarks

• India’s signing of the Riyadh Design Law Treaty is a progressive step towards strengthening its intellectual property framework. 
• When combined with initiatives like the Startup India program and the Startups Intellectual Property Protection (SIPP) scheme, these provisions will help empower startups and SMEs by boosting their competitiveness and supporting market growth.

Source: PIB