The fast globalization and economic liberalization of the twenty-first century led to the rise of "Intellectual Capital" as a major wealth driver of international trade between nations. Intellectual property rights, whether in the form of new laws or court rulings, have become an indispensable part of India's corporate community. The World Trade Organization's (WTO) accord has allowed India to comply with TRIPS (Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights). With particular attention to the TRIPS revisions, this article examines India's intellectual property legislation. Range of Coverage The legal system in India addresses the following aspects of intellectual property: Industrial designs, patents, trademarks, and copyrights Geographical indications Designs for integrated circuit layouts Types of plants, Information Technology and cyber-crime data protection.
Regulatory Guidelines In India
The following Acts regulate intellectual property rights:
- 1999's Trade Marks Act
- The 1970 Patent Act, as revised in 2005
- 1957's Copyright Act
- The Designs Act of 2000
- The 1999 Act Geographical Indication of Goods (Registration and Protection)
- The 2001 Farmers' Rights and Plant Varieties Protection Act
- The Information Technology Act of 2000