Govt seeks stakeholder inputs on IPR issues in trade pact with UK

The government on Wednesday sought suggestions from stakeholders and industry bodies on intellectual property rights (IPR) issues in the proposed India-UK Enhanced Trade Partnership.

The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) said that IPR plays a critical role and this agreement would be of significant importance to IP intensive industries, both creative and technology driven.

“In this context, the department is carrying out consultations on future trade negotiations between India and UK, which will last for a period of one month,” DPIIT said, asking the stakeholders to submit the details latest by August 10, 2021.


The department has asked stakeholders to furnish details on the IPR areas which are of “prime considerations” such as patent, trademark, copyright, design, geographical indications, enforcement, commercialization and technology transfer, and regulatory approval.

As per the proforma issued by the DPIIT, they also have to provide areas of concern such as filing, registration, enforcement or commercialization of stakeholders’ IP rights in the UK, and the level at which the challenges were observed such as IP offices, enforcement agencies or any other government or regulatory agency besides the focus areas for the government in its collaborative efforts with the UK.