DPIIT conducts over 1,300 programs to foster deeper understanding of Intellectual Property Rights

DPIIT conducts over 1,300 programs to foster deeper understanding of Intellectual Property Rights

The DPIIT has implemented many measures to enhance awareness of intellectual property rights and mitigate instances of fraudulent activities involving the abuse or misrepresentation of IP rights for personal or financial gains. These scams/activities can take various forms, but often revolve around deception or the unlawful use of IP, leading to financial losses or reputational damage. These may include passing off of fake goods as authentic / genuine, brand tarnishing activities, cyber-squatting, patent infringements, copyright violations including unauthorized reproduction / distribution / sale of pirated copies of copyrighted materials etc.

Since 2017, a comprehensive framework for awareness initiatives has been established across key sectors, including academia, law enforcement agencies, and industry organizations. The Cell for IPR Promotion & Management under DPIIT has conducted over 1,300 programs, including awareness sessions, workshops, and training, all aimed at fostering a deeper understanding of IPR, and how to combat counterfeiting / piracy prevalent on both offline and online platforms.

Over 130 programs on IP Enforcement have been conducted for various law enforcement agencies including police, customs and judiciary, pan India in association with IP experts in various fields such as:-

Judiciary- A total of 58 programs have been conducted for judges and legal professionals, aimed at enhancing their understanding of evolving legal frameworks in intellectual property and its application in the digital space. These sessions are designed to support informed and efficient decision-making in legal proceedings regarding IP infringements.

Customs – 26 programs have been held for customs officials, focusing on strengthening their knowledge of counterfeit goods, crime investigations, and the efficient management of border control operations.

Police – 49 programs have been organized for police, with a focus on improving their skills in investigating intellectual property violations, applying criminal law, and interacting with the public.

In addition, over 400 programs have been conducted in academic institutions, some of which were in collaboration with DPIIT-IPR Chairs and Atal Tinkering Labs. More than 4600 academic institutions have been covered till date. Over 400 programs have been conducted to support industry, some of which were in collaboration with the Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). These initiatives enable entrepreneurs and startups to understand the significance of safeguarding their IP, register their IP thereby reducing vulnerabilities to IP infringements.

Following additional measures were also taken:

Launched IPR Enforcement guidelines to assist Police Officials in handling IPR infringement matters.

To enhance the Intellectual Property Ecosystem in the Country, the Government of India had introduced the National IPR Policy in 2016 encompassing all IPRs into a single vision document setting in place an institutional mechanism for the implementation, monitoring and review of IP laws.

The policy has seven objectives designed to create an environment that encourages innovation and creativity by providing stronger protection and incentives for inventors, artists, and creators. There are several measures undertaken to achieve the given objectives. Among measures taken are compliance and timeline reduction in IP filing and disposal, fee rebate for Startups, MSMEs, Educational Institutions and expedited examination for certain categories of applicants. Following are some of the key measures taken:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Measures have been undertaken to safeguard sensitive information about IP applications. Under the provisions of the Patents Act, a patent application is not made open to the public for eighteen months from the filing date or the priority date, unless the applicant submits a request for early publication. Additionally, the application, specification, and other related documents are not referred to the examiner for examination until the application is published. Designs are published only after registration.

Further, the Government has taken measures to ensure the safety and security of IP applications related data. All data has been securely uploaded to the cloud, providing better protection against data loss and preventing unauthorized data access.

 

This information has been provided by the Union Minister for State for Commerce and Industry, Shri Jitin Prasada in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.

 

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