Nirmala discusses IPR related issues with officials

Amidst the US targeting India's intellectual property rights regime, Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today discussed various IPR related issues with her officials.
"Was briefed on intellectual property rights (IPR) matters, including developments in IP offices. Data exclusivity, patentability criteria, US special 301 process discussed," Sitharaman said in her tweet.
The Obama administration had been strongly criticising India's investment climate and IPR laws, especially in the pharmaceutical and solar sectors.
India has always maintained its IPR regime is fully compliant with all international laws and that it would drag the US to the WTO's dispute settlement mechanism if it takes any adverse unilateral step against the country in IPR-related matters.

She also said India has taken steps to improve infrastructure in IP offices and to improve transparency and reduce transaction costs.
After operationalisation of International Searching Authority (ISA) and International Preliminary Examining Authority (IPEA) in October 2013, she said India has received 177 international applications.

"Consent given for acting as ISA/IPEA for Iran," she tweeted.
Further, she added that with Madrid Protocol in India, 4,704 international applications have been received from World Intellectual Property Organization and 107 applications filed from India.
In April 2013, India joined the Madrid Protocol which will enable domestic companies and entrepreneurs to obtain cost effective global trademark registration.

"All international patent applications are filed online and processed electronically through software module," she tweeted.