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INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAWS IN INDIA

With the rapid globalization and opening up of the Indian economy, “Intellectual Capital” has become one of the key wealth drivers in the present international trade. Intellectual property rights have become significantly conspicuous on the legal horizon of India both in terms of new statutes and judicial pronouncements. India ratified the agreement establishing the World Trade Organization (WTO), which contain the Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). Indian Statutes, enforcement provisions and methods of dispute settlement with respect to intellectual property (IP) protection are now fully TRIPS compliant.

India has enacted following
Iintellectual Property Laws

• Trade Marks
• Patents
• Copyrights and related rights
• Industrial Designs
• Geographical Indications
• Lay out Designs of Integrated Circuits
• Plant varieties
• Data Protection
• Protection of Undisclosed Information (Trade Secrets)

Broadly, the following laws deal with the above matters relating to intellectual

property and data protection:

1. Trade Marks Act, 1999

2. The Patents Act, 1970 ( as amended upto 2005)

            3. The Copyright Act, 1957

4. The Designs Act, 2000

5. The Geographical Indications of Goods ( Registration and Protection) Act, 1999

6. The Semiconductor Integrated Circuits Layout-Design Act, 2000

7. The Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Right Act, 2001

8. The Information Technology Act, 2000