{"id":77610,"date":"2026-06-23T18:05:49","date_gmt":"2026-06-23T12:35:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/?p=77610"},"modified":"2026-06-23T18:11:52","modified_gmt":"2026-06-23T12:41:52","slug":"global-intellectual-property-order","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/editorial-analysis\/23-06-2026\/global-intellectual-property-order","title":{"rendered":"Global Intellectual Property Order: Need For Consistency and Equity in Enforcement"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/Economy; Science &amp; Technology<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context:<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Recently, the <strong>United States Trade Representative (USTR)<\/strong> had initiated a <strong>Section 301<\/strong> investigation into Vietnam as it was designated as a <strong>&#8216;Priority Foreign Country&#8217; <\/strong>in the <strong>Special 301 Report (2026)<\/strong> on account of some issues related to intellectual property (IP) protection and enforcement.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Global Intellectual Property Order<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The global intellectual property order consists of international laws, institutions and instruments that regulate the creation, protection and enforcement of <strong>intellectual property rights (IPRs).<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Key Components:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>TRIPS Agreement (WTO):<\/strong> The Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) sets minimal standards for IP protection among WTO members.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It includes patents, copyrights, trademarks, geographical indications and trade secrets.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO):<\/strong> It is a UN specialised agency administering global IP treaties. It helps harmonise IP norms and innovations.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Unilateral Trade Measures:<\/strong> Tools such as USTR\u2019s Special 301 Report evaluate a country\u2019s IP regime and may result in trade investigations and sanctions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>India continues to be listed as a Priority Watch List or Priority Foreign Country along with many developing countries.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Such repeated categorization raises concerns about the standards for evaluating the country\u2019s compliance with IP regulations.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-background\" style=\"background-color:#fff2cc\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p><strong>WIPO Treaty On Intellectual Property, Genetic Resources and Associated Traditional Knowledge (2024)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Patent applicants should provide details of the source of genetic resources used in invention applications.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Disclosures should cover associated traditional knowledge.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It increases transparency in the patent system.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It aims to prevent incorrect patents due to appropriation of genetic resources.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Section 301 Of USTR (US Trade Act of 1974)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It is authorised to conduct investigations into and take measures against any foreign country which discriminates against US trade policies.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Special 301 report is issued annually and lists those countries whose protection of IP rights does not measure up to the US standards. Countries can be listed under:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Priority Foreign Country (PFC):<\/strong> This is the worst list that can result in investigations and sanctions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Priority Watch List (PWL):<\/strong> Those countries that require close attention to resolve concerns about protection of IPRs.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Watch List:<\/strong> Countries with fewer concerns.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Need For Uniformity in IP Enforcement<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Selective Scrutiny:<\/strong> Many developing countries including <strong>India, Vietnam, and Indonesia<\/strong> are subjected to scrutiny.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>However, similar scrutiny does not usually apply to developed economies in relation to issues such as <strong>misappropriation of traditional knowledge (TK) and genetic resources.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Changing Norms Need Balancing:<\/strong> Recently adopted WIPO Treaty on Intellectual Property, Genetic Resources and Associated Traditional Knowledge (2024) recognizes the requirement for transparency in patenting.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Equity Principle:<\/strong> The credibility of the global IP regime calls for standards to be uniform; equal accountability of all the countries; and recognition of both private and community-based knowledge systems.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Issues and Concerns Related to Global IP Order<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Asymmetry Between Developed and Developing Countries:<\/strong> The developed countries have better technological abilities and they dominate in patent ownership.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Developing countries end up becoming net technology importers and paying huge royalties.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Biopiracy and Misappropriation:<\/strong> TK and biological resources of nations rich in biodiversity get commercialized through exploitation and lack of proper consent and benefit-sharing.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Examples<\/strong> include the controversy over <strong>neem patent,<\/strong> the <strong>turmeric <\/strong>wound healing patent case, and the dispute over <strong>basmati rice patent<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>TRIPS-Plus Obligations:<\/strong> Bilateral and regional trade agreements contain IP provisions going beyond TRIPS obligations.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>This would lead to restrictions on the policy space in matters of public health and agriculture.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Effect on Development:<\/strong> The excessive IP protection would lead to higher costs of medicines, seeds, and technology.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It could negatively impact the developmental priorities of low- and middle-income countries.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Insufficient Protection of Community Knowledge:<\/strong> Patent regime traditionally has only protected the individual inventions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Concerns &amp; Issues Specific to India<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Biopiracy:<\/strong> India has always raised examples where the traditional knowledge and biological resources had been exploited commercially without prior informed consent, acknowledgment of source and benefit-sharing.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Protection of Traditional Knowledge:<\/strong> India has maintained that the indigenous communities are custodians of valuable knowledge systems but the existing IP regime has not taken into consideration their collective ownership.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Flexibility:<\/strong> India has supported maintaining the TRIPS flexibilities concerning public health; food security; and affordable technology.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>India\u2019s Approach towards IP Enforcement<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>National Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Policy, 2016:<\/strong> According to DPIIT, the policy is designed to encourage creativity and innovation; entrepreneurship; build awareness on IPRs; develop effective IP administration and enforcement; and commercialize IP assets.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Seven Pillars of the Policy:<\/strong> Awareness, generation of IPRs, legal and legislative framework, administration and management, commercialization, enforcement and adjudication, and human resource development.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL):<\/strong> It is set up for documentation of traditional medicinal knowledge. This helps patent examiners in different countries identify the prior art and prevent the wrong patents.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Enforcement Improvement:<\/strong> IP Offices modernization; digital examination and faster examination processes; and special IP divisions in courts.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Legislative Balance:<\/strong> India is striving to maintain balance between incentivizing innovation and welfare of the people.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Way Forward: Towards Balanced IP Regime<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Uniform Application of IP Standards<\/strong> in Developed and Developing Countries<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Implementation of <strong>WIPO Treaty (2024)<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Effective mechanism <strong>against biopiracy and misappropriation;<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Equitable benefit-sharing<\/strong> with the indigenous communities;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Maintaining <strong>TRIPS flexibilities<\/strong> in matters of public health and development<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Conservation of biodiversity through innovation policy<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Recognition of <strong>community-based knowledge systems<\/strong> as well as private IP<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-background has-fixed-layout\" style=\"background-color:#fff2cc\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Daily Mains Practice Question<\/strong><br><strong>[Q] <\/strong>Examine the need for consistency and equity in global intellectual property enforcement. Discuss India&#8217;s concerns regarding biopiracy and traditional knowledge.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindubusinessline.com\/opinion\/needed-a-more-equitable-intellectual-property-order\/article71129599.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source: BL<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Daily-Editorial-Analysis-23-06-2026.pdf\"><strong>Download PDF<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Published on:<\/strong> 23 June, 2026<\/p>\n<p>Recently, the United States Trade Representative (USTR) had initiated a Section 301 investigation into Vietnam as it was designated as a &#8216;Priority Foreign Country&#8217; in the Special 301 Report (2026) on account of some issues related to intellectual property (IP) protection and enforcement.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":77614,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-77610","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-editorial-analysis"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/06\/global-intellectual-property-order.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/77610","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=77610"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/77610\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":77616,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/77610\/revisions\/77616"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/77614"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=77610"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=77610"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=77610"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}