India Ranks Among Top 10 Nations for Global Intellectual Property Filings
India has achieved a significant milestone in the global intellectual property (IP) landscape, ranking among the top 10 nations for patents, trademarks, and industrial designs, according to the World Intellectual Property Indicators (WIPI) 2024 report published by the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO). The report underscores a strong global growth in IP filings, with India emerging as one of the key drivers of this expansion alongside China, the United States, Japan, and South Korea.
What is WIPO?
The World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations, established in 1967 to promote creative activity and protect intellectual property worldwide. Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, WIPO administers 26 international treaties and has 193 member states.
India joined WIPO in 1975 and participates in several WIPO-administered treaties, including the Paris Convention (1998) for industrial property protection, the Berne Convention (1928) for literary and artistic works, and the Patent Cooperation Treaty (1998). Other notable treaties include the Marrakesh Treaty (2016), which improves access to published works for visually impaired individuals, and the Madrid Protocol (2013) for trademark registration.
WIPO is also known for publishing critical reports like the Global Innovation Index, world intellectual property indicators, and WIPO technology trends.
India’s Performance in WIPI 2024
Patents
India recorded the fastest growth in patent applications among the top 20 nations in 2023, marking its fifth consecutive year of double-digit growth. It now ranks sixth globally in patent applications.
Industrial Designs
From 2018 to 2023, applications for patents and industrial designs in India more than doubled. The top sectors for design filings include textiles and accessories, tools and machines, and health and cosmetics, collectively accounting for nearly 50% of total applications.
Trademarks
India ranks fourth globally in trademark filings, with domestic entities accounting for nearly 90% of applications. Key trademark filings were in sectors such as health (21.9%), agriculture (15.3%), and clothing (12.8%). Additionally, India’s trademark office maintains the second-largest number of active registrations worldwide.
Geographical Indications (GIs)
While India has 530 GIs in force, it lags behind countries like China and Germany due to limited international protection agreements. Over 93% of India’s GIs are national, similar to trends in countries like Brazil (92.4%) and China (96.2%).
What are intellectual property, patents, trademarks, GIs, and industrial designs?
- Intellectual Property (IP): IP refers to intangible creations of human intellect, such as copyrights, patents, and trademarks. Its significance was first recognized under the Paris Convention (1883) and the Berne Convention (1886), both administered by WIPO.
- Patents: These are exclusive rights granted for inventions, allowing inventors to prevent others from commercially exploiting their innovations within a specific jurisdiction and timeframe.
- Trademarks: A trademark is a unique sign distinguishing goods or services of one enterprise from another, offering legal protection to the owner.
- Industrial Designs: These include the aesthetic aspects of a product, such as shape, patterns, or colors, granting protection to the owner against unauthorized copying for commercial use.
- Geographical Indications (GIs): GIs identify goods as originating from a specific region and possessing qualities or reputations tied to that geography, such as India’s Darjeeling Tea or Mysore Silk.
India’s Initiatives to Drive Innovation
India has implemented a robust legislative framework, including the Patents Act (1970), Copyright Act (1957), and the Designs Act (2000), alongside the National Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Policy (2016).
Government programs like Make in India, the National IP Awareness Mission (NIPAM), and the Kalam Program for IP Literacy and Awareness (KAPILA) further promote innovation. These initiatives align with India’s improving performance in the Global Innovation Index (GII), where it climbed to 39th place in 2024, up from 81st in 2015.
Socio-Economic Implications of India’s IP Growth
India’s advancements in IP filings are expected to:
- Boost Economic Growth: IP protection empowers local businesses by safeguarding their innovations, enhancing competitiveness, and driving economic expansion.
- Create Jobs: Growth in the IP sector will generate employment in research, development, and legal services.
- Strengthen Global Positioning: A robust IP framework establishes India as a global innovation hub, attracting foreign investment and partnerships.
Challenges and the Way Forward
| Challenges in India’s Innovation Ecosystem | Way Forward |
|---|---|
| Streamlined Processes: digitize and expedite IP filings and approvals to reduce delays. | Boost R&D Investment: Increase funding for research, indigenous technologies, and cross-sectoral collaborations. Provide grants, incubator centers, and mentorship for startups. |
| Limited IP Awareness: Many startups and MSMEs lack knowledge of IP protection. | Awareness Campaigns: Conduct targeted IP literacy campaigns for businesses and educational institutions. |
| Weak R&D Ecosystem: Low investments in research and limited academia-industry collaboration hinder innovation. | Boost R&D Investment: Increase funding for research, indigenous technologies, and cross-sectoral collaborations. Provide grants, incubation centers, and mentorship for startups. |
| Global Filing Barriers: Costly and complex international IP filing processes deter Indian innovators. | International Collaboration: Enhance participation in global treaties and subsidize international patent filings. |
India’s recognition as a top global innovator in WIPI 2024 reflects its progress in fostering a resilient innovation ecosystem. However, addressing existing challenges will be key to sustaining growth and realizing its full potential as a global leader in intellectual property.
