Summary
The final version of India's National IP Policy is delayed as key ministries, including Finance, Health and Family Welfare, and External Affairs, have yet to provide their comments. Departments of Pharmaceuticals and Commerce have also not contributed inputs. This delay is viewed positively, given that the first policy draft lacked integration and clarity, and additional time may yield a more effective policy. Importantly, the draft has stimulated critical debates and discussions on national intellectual property matters. The policy process has raised expectations for reforming certain systemic inefficiencies in India’s IP regime.
It has been reported in the Business Standard on May 26, 2015, that the final version of the National IP Policy is expected to be delayed. The delay is due to pending comments and inputs from 3 important ministries: Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and Ministry of External Affairs. No inputs have yet been given by Departments of Pharmaceuticals and Commerce.
The delay is not surprising, and is probably good for India. The first draft of the policy was far from integrative, cohesive and lucid, and one hopes that time is being spent well on making it a respectable and worthy statement of India’s stand on Intellectual Property. Irrespective of the final outcome, however, one must accept that the draft has spurred discussions and debates about important IP issues, and heightened hopes for speedy transformation of some lax systems.
SiNApSE will keep you posted of further developments.
Source: here