WIPO World Intellectual Property Indicators 2024 Report

• 03 Dec 2024

For Prelims: WIPO, Intellectual Property, National IPR (Intellectual Property Rights) Policy 2016, Geographical Tag, Copyrights, Universal Declaration of Human Rights. 

For Mains: Intellectual Property Rights, Role and Importance of a Strong IPR Ecosystem, 

Source: PIB 

Why in News? 

Recently, India has gained notable recognition in the global intellectual property (IP) arena, ranking among the top 10 nations for patents, trademarks, and industrial designs, as per the WIPO World Intellectual Property Indicators (WIPI) 2024 report.  

• The report highlights continued growth in global IP filings, reflecting innovation resilience despite economic challenges. This increase was largely driven by residents in China, the US, Japan, South Korea, and India. 

What is WIPO? 

• The World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) is one of the oldest specialized United Nations agencies, was established in 1967 to promote creative activity and protect intellectual property globally. It administers 26 international treaties and is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.  
  • WIPO has 193 member states.  
• India joined WIPO in 1975. India is also a member of the following important WIPO-administered International Treaties and Conventions relating to IPRs: 
  • Budapest Treaty, 2001, on the International Recognition of the Deposit of Microorganisms for the Purposes of Patent Procedure 
  • Paris Convention 1998, for the Protection of Industrial Property 
  • Berne Convention, 1928, for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works 
  • Patent Cooperation Treaty, 1998 
  • Protocol Relating to the Madrid Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Marks, 2013 
  • Washington Treaty on Intellectual Property in respect of Integrated Circuits 
  • Nairobi Treaty, 1983, on the Protection of the Olympic Symbol 
  • Convention for the Protection of Producers of Phonograms Against Unauthorized Duplication of Their Phonograms, 1975 
  • Marrakesh Treaty, 2016,  to facilitate Access to Published Works by Visually Impaired Persons and Persons with Print Disabilities.  
• Reports Published by WIPO: 
  • Global Innovation Index 
  • World Intellectual Property Indicators 
  • WIPO Technology Trends report 

How has India Performed in the World Intellectual Property Indicators 2024? 

• Double-Digit Growth in Patents: India recorded the fastest growth in patent applications in 2023 among the top 20 origins, marking the fifth consecutive year of double-digit growth. India ranks sixth globally for patents applications. 
• Industrial Designs: Between 2018 and 2023, patent and industrial design applications more than doubled.  
  • The top three sectors - Textiles and Accessories, Tools and Machines, and Health and Cosmetics—made up almost half of all design filings. 
• Patent-to-GDP Ratio: India’s patent-to-GDP ratio – a measure of the economic impact of patent activity – also saw significant growth indicating that IP activity is scaling alongside economic expansion. 
• Trademarks: India ranked fourth globally in trademark filings with nearly 90% of these filings made by domestic entities. Key sectors include health (21.9%), agriculture (15.3%) and clothing (12.8%).  
  • India’s trademark office holds the second-largest number of active registrations worldwide.  
• Geographical Indication:  
  • India (530) has fewer GIs in force, as its GIs lack protection by international agreements. In contrast, countries like China, Germany, Hungary, and the Czech Republic have significantly higher numbers of GIs in force within their territories. 
  • Hungary and the Czech Republic are party to the Lisbon system. 
  • Over 90% of GIs in Brazil (92.4%), China (96.2%), India (93.6%), Türkiye (99.8%), and Viet Nam (91.5%) were national GIs.

What are IP, Patents,Trademarks, GIs and Industrial Designs? 

• Intellectual Property: It includes intangible creations of the human intellect, primarily copyrights, patents, and trademarks.  
  • The importance of intellectual property was first recognized in the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property (1883) and the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works (1886). Both treaties are administered by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).  
  • Rights related to IP are outlined in Article 27 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.  
• Patents: 
  • A patent is an exclusive right granted for an invention. It provides the inventors the legal protection of their inventions. 
    • The patent owner has the exclusive right to prevent or stop others from commercially exploiting the patented invention for a limited period within the country or region in which the patent was granted.  
• Trademarks: 
  • A ‘trademark’, or simply a ‘mark’, is a sign capable of distinguishing the goods or services produced or provided by one enterprise from those of other enterprises 
    • Trademark registration confers an exclusive right to the use of the registered trademark implying that the trademark can be exclusively used by its owner, or licensed to another party for use in return for payment.  
• Industrial Designs: 
  • An industrial design refers to the ornamental or aesthetic aspects of a product, including 3D features like shape and configuration, or 2D elements like images, patterns, lines, and colors. 
    • The owner of a registered industrial design has the right to prevent third parties from making, selling or importing articles bearing or embodying a design which is a copy, or substantially a copy, of the protected design, when such acts are undertaken for commercial purposes.  
• Geographical Indication: 
  • A geographical indication (GI) is a sign identifying a good as having originated from a specific geographical area and possessing a given quality, reputation or other characteristic essentially attributable to that geographical origin.  
    • A GI tag identifies goods whose quality, reputation or other characteristics are connected to their territory of origin.

What are India's Initiatives to Drive Innovation? 

• Legislative Framework: 
  • The Copyright Act, 1957  
  • The Designs Act, 2000  
  • The Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 
  • The Patents Act, 1970 
  • The Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Act, 2001 
  • The Trade Marks Act, 1999 
  • National Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Policy, 2016 
• Government Initiatives: 
  • Make in India program 
  • National (IP) Awareness Mission (NIPAM) 
  • Kalam Program for Intellectual Property Literacy and Awareness Campaign (KAPILA) 
• Rank in Global Innovation Index (GII): 
  • India ranked 39th among 133 global economies in the Global Innovation Index 2024. In 2023, India ranked 40th rank out of 132 economies.  
  • India was ranked 46th position in 2021, and 81st rank in 2015. 

What are the Socio-Economic Implications of India’s IP Growth? 

• Economic Empowerment: Increased IP filings can boost local businesses by protecting innovations, leading to enhanced competitiveness and economic growth. 
• Job Creation: The growth of the IP sector is likely to create new job opportunities in research, development, and legal services related to intellectual property. 
• Global Positioning: As India strengthens its IP framework, it enhances its reputation as a global innovation hub, attracting foreign investment and partnerships. 

What are the Challenges in India’s Innovation Ecosystem and Way Forward?

Challenges in India’s Innovation Ecosystem	Way Forward
Administrative Delays: Lengthy bureaucratic procedures in IP registration, patent approvals, and dispute resolution hinder innovation.	Streamlined Processes: Digitize and expedite IP-related processes to reduce delays and ensure efficient patent and trademark filings
Limited Awareness of IP Rights: Many entrepreneurs, especially in MSMEs and informal sectors, lack knowledge about the importance of protecting intellectual property.	Public Awareness Campaigns: Conduct nation-wide campaigns targeting startups, MSMEs, and educational institutions to promote IP literacy.
Weak R&D Ecosystem: India faces challenges in its innovation landscape due to a weak R&D ecosystem, characterized by low investment and limited collaboration between academia, industry, and government.  Additionally, startups struggle with fragmented support, lacking access to financial resources, mentorship, and necessary infrastructure for innovation.	Boosting R&D Investment: To strengthen the innovation landscape, it is crucial to boost R&D investment by increasing public and private sector funding, with a focus on cross-sectoral innovations and indigenous technologies. Additionally, creating a holistic startup ecosystem by providing grants, incubation centers, and mentorship programs can empower startups across all sectors.
Limited Access to Global Markets: Indian innovators face challenges in protecting IP internationally due to complex and costly global filing processes.	International Collaboration: Enhance participation in global IP treaties and offer subsidies for international patent filings by Indian entities.

Drishti Mains Question

What are the key drivers of India’s success in the innovation ecosystem, and how do they impact its socio-economic landscape?

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Questions (PYQs)

Prelims

Q. With reference to the ‘National Intellectual Property Rights Policy’, consider the following statements: (2017)

1. It reiterates India’s commitment to the Doha Development Agenda and the TRIPS Agreement. 
2. Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion is the nodal agency for regulating intellectual property rights in India. 

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) 1 only 

(b) 2 only 

(c) Both 1 and 2 

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Ans: (c)

Q. Consider the following statements: (2019)

1. According to the Indian Patents Act, a biological process to create a seed can be patented in India. 
2. In India, there is no Intellectual Property Appellate Board. 
3. Plant varieties are not eligible to be patented in India. 

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 3 only 

(b) 2 and 3 only 

(c) 3 only 

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Ans: (c)

Mains

Q. In a globalized world, Intellectual Property Rights assume significance and are a source of litigation. Broadly distinguish between the terms—Copyrights, Patents and Trade Secrets. (2014)