India secures position in top 10 countries in Patents, Trademarks, and Industrial Designs as per WIPO 2024 Report.
What are the highlights of the WIPO 2024 report?
WIPO report - The World Intellectual Property Report, published biennially by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), provides insights into global IP trends and innovations.
India’s growth in patents - India recorded a 15.7% increase in patent applications, ranking 6th globally with 64,480 applications in 2023.
This marks the fifth consecutive year of double-digit growth, with over half of these applications from domestic applicants.
Industrial design surge - India’s industrial design sector also witnessed significant growth, with applications rising by 36.4%.
This surge reflects the increasing focus on product design, manufacturing, and the creative industries in India.
Leading sectors of Industrial Design -Textiles and Accessories, Tools and Machines, and Health and Cosmetics, together accounted for nearly half of the design filings.
Strength in trademark filings - With a 6.1% increase in 2023, India ranked 4th globally for trademarks.
Leading sectors in trademark filings - Health (21.9%), Agriculture (15.3%), and Clothing (12.8%).
India’s trademark office now holds the 2nd largest number of active trademark registrations worldwide, with over 3.2 million trademarks in force.
Patent-to-GDP ratio - Over the past 5 years, India’s IP activity has shown significant growth.
Between 2018 and 2023, patent and industrial design applications more than doubled, while trademark filings increased by 60%.
This surge reflects the growing importance of intellectual property in India’s economic expansion, with the country’s patent-to-GDP ratio rising sharply from 144 in 2013 to 381 in 2023.
Global patent trends - Worldwide, 3.55 million patent applications were filed in 2023, a 2.7% increase from 2022, with Asian economies like China, Japan, South Korea, and India leading the charge.
This surge highlights Asia’s dominance in IP and innovation.
What is intellectual property?
Intellectual Property (IP) - It refers to creations of the mind, including inventions, literary and artistic works, designs, and symbols used in commerce.
IP is protected by laws that allow creators to earn recognition or financial benefits from their innovations.
Types of intellectual property
Patents - Exclusive rights for inventions, allowing owners to decide how or if others may use their invention.
Copyright - Rights for creators over literary and artistic works, such as books, music, and films.
Trademarks - Symbols or marks that distinguish the goods or services of one entity from others.
Industrial designs - Protection for the aesthetic aspects of articles, including patterns and colors.
A design may consist of three-dimensional features, such as the shape or surface of an article, or of two-dimensional features, such as patterns, lines or color.
Geographical indications – These are signs used on goods that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities, a reputation or characteristics that are essentially attributable to that place of origin.
Trade secrets - These are IP rights on confidential information which may be sold or licensed.
What are the importances of Intellectual Property?
Encourages innovation and creativity - By protecting creators’ rights, IP fosters an environment where innovation can thrive.
Inventors are motivated to develop new technologies, knowing their efforts are legally safeguarded.
Economic growth - IP-intensive industries contribute substantially to GDP and job creation.
IP rights allow businesses to commercialize their products, generating revenue and spurring economic activity.
Attracting investments - Strong IP protection encourages foreign and domestic investment in research and development, fueling industrial growth and global competitiveness.
Consumer confidence - IP rights ensure that consumers receive authentic products, improving trust and safety in the marketplace.
What are the Indian government measures to improve IP?
National IPR Policy 2016 - This comprehensive policy unifies all IP rights under a single framework, focusing on innovation promotion, IP protection, and policy review mechanisms.
Cell for IPR Promotion and Management (CIPAM) - CIPAM, established under the National IPR Policy, coordinates policy implementation and promotes IP awareness across sectors.
National Intellectual Property Awareness Mission (NIPAM) - NIPAM aims to spread IP awareness and provide training in educational institutions, building a culture of innovation from a young age.
Startup Intellectual Property Protection (SIPP) scheme - This program supports startups in managing and protecting IP assets, fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in the tech and creative industries.
Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) - Launched by NITI Aayog in 2016, AIM encourages innovation and entrepreneurship.
What lies ahead?
Enhancing IP education and awareness to help innovators understand IP benefits and protection mechanisms, especially at grassroots levels.
Strengthening IP enforcement to boost investor confidence and protect innovators’ rights.
Investing in IP infrastructure to streamline processes, reducing wait times and improving IP service quality.
Encouraging domestic innovation to reduce dependence on foreign patents and strengthen India’s self-reliance in innovation.
