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India has signed the Final Act of the Riyadh Design Law Treaty (DLT), marking a significant milestone in its commitment to inclusive growth and improving access to intellectual property (IP) protection. After nearly two decades of negotiations, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) member states adopted the Design Law Treaty (DLT), aimed at harmonizing the procedural frameworks for industrial design protection.
Key Provisions of the Treaty
The DLT seeks to streamline design registration processes across different jurisdictions by standardizing procedural requirements. This will reduce administrative burdens and improve efficiency, allowing for smoother global protection of designs. Importantly, the treaty emphasizes small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), startups, and independent designers, aiming to make design protection more accessible and affordable to these stakeholders.
Provisions to Benefit Design Applicants
The treaty introduces several flexible provisions for design applicants:
- Relaxed time limits for design filing
- Reinstatement of lost rights
- Option to correct or add priority claims
- Simplified procedures for recording assignments and licenses
- Option to file multiple designs in a single application
These provisions offer greater flexibility and convenience for applicants, helping startups and SMEs navigate the complexities of design protection.
Encouraging Digital Transformation
In addition, the treaty encourages countries to adopt electronic industrial design systems and facilitate the electronic exchange of priority documents, enhancing global connectivity. These changes complement India’s efforts through initiatives like Startup India and the Startups Intellectual Property Protection (SIPP) scheme, which provide additional support for startups and SMEs in securing global design rights.
India’s Growing Focus on Design Protection
India has a rich heritage of design and craftsmanship, and the country’s emphasis on design protection as a driver of innovation has led to remarkable growth in design registrations. Over the past decade, design registrations in India have tripled, with domestic filings increasing by 120% in the last two years. In the past year alone, design applications grew by 25%, highlighting the country’s growing recognition of design as a critical asset for economic development.
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