India reaffirms commitment for a robust IP regime in UK trade talks

New Delhi: India has reaffirmed its commitment to a robust and forward-looking Intellectual Property (IP) regime in the UK trade talks, the Commerce Ministry said on Wednesday.

The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) and the Department of Commerce, in collaboration with the Centre for Trade and Investment Law (CTIL), organised a seminar on “Demystifying the IPR Chapter in the India–UK CETA” here. Policymakers, domain experts, academia and industry representatives deliberated on the opportunities and concerns related to the Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) provisions of the India–UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). Experts underlined that the IPR chapter strikes a careful balance between fostering innovation and ensuring access.

The panels dispelled several myths surrounding the agreement and clarified that the IPR chapter does not curtail India’s policy space. “Instead, it reinforces India’s ability to frame rules in line with its developmental priorities. It was also underlined that the chapter reflects India’s existing legal framework while sending a positive signal to global partners and investors about the country’s commitment to a robust and forward-looking IP regime,” according to a ministry statement.