FOR INTIMIDATION, unabashed hypocrisy and disregard of inconvenient facts, the latest "Special 301 Report" brought out by the office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) continues to take the honours. The 2023 report is all of a piece with those of the previous years; its content, language and analysis not differing much for well over a decade. And India continues to be on its "Priority Watch" list, as it has been since at least 2007.
The "Special 301 Report" looks at the laws on intellectual property (IP) rights in over 100 countries that the US trades with, and assesses the "adequacy and effectiveness" of these regulations in protecting and enforcing IP rights. The yardstick USTR uses is its own-not any globally mandated agreement such as the World Trade Organization (WTO)'s Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) but Washington's perception of how systems in different countries affect its trade interests. The "Priority Watch" list is USTR's category for those countries that present the most serious concerns in this regard.
What does the 2023 report say about India? That it "remains one of the world's most challenging major economies with respect to protection and enforcement of IP", with patent issues continuing to be of particular concern. Why so? Because of "the potential threat of patent revocations, lack of presumption of patent validity, and the narrow patentability criteria which impacts US companies across different sectors." It also complains that patent applicants continue to confront costly and time-consuming pre-grant and post-grant oppositions, long waiting periods to be granted patents and excessive reporting requirements.
Denne historien er fra June 01, 2023-utgaven av Down To Earth.
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Denne historien er fra June 01, 2023-utgaven av Down To Earth.
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A SPRIG TO CARE FOR
Punarnava, a perennial herb, is easy to grow and has huge health benefits
DIGGING A DISASTER
Soapstone mining near Dabti Vijaypur village has caused many residents to migrate.
REVIEW THE TREATMENT
Several faecal sludge treatment plants in Uttar Pradesh suffer from design flaws that make the treatment process both expensive and inefficient
MAKE STEEL SUSTAINABLE
As India works to double its GDP by 2030, its steel industry must balance growth with sustainability. By embracing policies like the Steel Scrap Recycling Policy 2019 and adopting green technologies, India is paving the way for a more sustainable future in steel production
Can ANRF pull off the impossible for India?
Anusandhan National Research Foundation is expected to reorient India's innovation goals but funding issues, old mindsets remain a drag
TROUBLED WOODS
Forests are a great bulwark against climate change. But this is fast changing. AKSHIT SANGOMLA travels through some of the pristine patches of the Western Ghats to explore how natural disturbances triggered by global warming now threaten the forest health
BLINDING GLOW
The science is clear: increased illumination has damaging consequences for the health of humans, animals and plants. It’s time governments introduced policies to protect the natural darkness and improved the quality of outdoor lighting.
GROUND REALITY
What happens when the soil loses the ability to grow healthy, high-yield crops on its own?
GM POLICY MUST BE FARMER CENTRIC
On July 23, the Supreme Court of India directed the Union government to develop a national policy on genetically modified (GM) crops for research, cultivation, trade and commerce through public consultation.
Vinchurni's Gandhi
A 96-year-old farmer transforms barren land into a thriving forest in drought-prone region of Satara