No question of 'appeasing' US or anyone else on IPR: Nirmala Sitharaman

NEW DELHI: As the government readies its national IPR policy, Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that there is no question of "appeasing" the US or anyone else.

"Our IPR policy is in the making. The draft is out inviting inputs from all. No "trying to appease" anyone," she tweeted in reply to another tweet asking why India was trying to appease the US on Intellectual Property Rights (IPR).

There are media reports that India is diluting its stand on issues such as data protection and patent linkage with the US.

Recently, during the meeting of Sitharaman and US Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker both the sides discussed IPR related issues.

The minister invited comments from the US on the draft IPR policy, which was prepared a six-member think tank.

The US companies have alleged that India's IPR regime is discriminatory, particularly for pharmaceutical industry. But India has consistently maintained that its laws are compliant with global and WTO norms.

The Commerce and Industry Ministry has constituted a six-member think tank to draft the National Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) policy and advise the department on IPR issues.

The draft policy has sought to encourage innovation by providing tax incentives and modifying IPR.