Patent Law News

India, U.S. Agree To Cooperate on Patents, Copyright Protection

Washington -- The United States and India will work to improve Indian enforcement of copyrights, patents and other intellectual property, trade officials say.

At the June 22 conclusion of a ministers' meeting in Washington called the U.S.-India Trade Policy Forum, U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab said the two sides agreed on a number of steps to strengthen their fast-growing trade and investment relations.

“We remain committed to doubling bilateral trade over the next three years," Schwab said. "Improving the regulatory, customs and intellectual property protection climate is key.”

According to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), the United States has pledged to work on strengthening India's Patent Office and Trademark Registry and building the capacity of India's judicial, customs and other agencies essential to intellectual property rights enforcement.

India agreed to consider measures for preventing disclosure of proprietary data on U.S. agricultural chemicals and pharmaceuticals, USTR said.Read more at usinfo.state.gov

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	Did You Know?
	There is a time limit on patent protection. For applications filed on or after June 8, 1995, utility and plant patents are granted for a term which begins with the date of the grant and usually ends 20 years from the date you first applied for the patent subject to the payment of appropriate maintenance fees. Design patents last 14 years from the date you are granted the patent. Note: Patents in force on June 8 and patents issued thereafter on applications filed prior to June 8, 1995 automatically have a term that is the greater of the twenty year term discussed above or seventeen years from the patent grant.