KrISHnA & SAUrAStrI
India has a fast-growing and emerging economy,
IndIA And ItS
which is starting to compete with other markets
around the world. Nevertheless, the Indian
Government has to take a liberal approach
InteLLectUAL
when it dealing with consumers, most of whom
are economically deprived.
Despite several amendments being made to the
prOpertY
Indian IP laws, the developed economies of the
world remain concerned about shortcomings
that remain apparent. Western countries,
particularly the US, have sought amendments
reGIme
to the Indian copyright regime from the outset.
And India is frequently requested to ratify and
become a signatory to the World Intellectual
Property Organization (WIPO) Internet
treaties.
Aditi Verma looks at the current
Furthermore, to curb the menace of piracy
in the music and film industry, Indian law
state of India’s Ip regime.
requires strict enforcement regulations. There
are also suggestions that marketing approval
for pharmaceutical and agrochemical products
should be regulated to help avoid the unfair
commercial use of undisclosed data. US-based
agencies, such as the US Trade Representative
(USTR) and International IP Alliance (IIPA)
have been the pioneers in evaluating various
facets of the Indian IP law.
Western organisations have been pressing
for reform of India’s IP system in line
with international standards, which more
significantly reflect the material interests
of IP owners. However, given India’s broad
consumer-oriented public policies, Indian legal
policy is not thought to have such stringent IP
provisions.
Despite the inherent problems in the Indian
social system, the local legal system—in
particular, the IP system—is more consumer-
friendly than oppressive. On one hand, the IP
regime cannot, at least at the present time, be
too rigid and unfair to Indian consumers. On
the other hand, it is flexible enough to avoid
undermining the interests of IP holders.
Certainly, there is a mandate in India for
a balanced IP regime in the given set of
circumstances.
copyright regime
India’s copyright law is well suited to the needs
of the people by virtue of various freedoms for
home users, educational purposes, online users,
content creators, etc. It has been acclaimed
internationally for the equilibrium it strikes
between private and public rights. UK-based
Consumer International recently praised
the consumer-friendly nature of the Indian
copyright regime compared to copyright
©iStockphoto.com / pavlen
50 World Intellectual property review September/October 2009 www.worldipreview.com
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