• India has signed the Final Act of the Riyadh Design Law Treaty, aiming to harmonize industrial design protection procedures.
• The treaty focuses on benefiting small and medium-sized enterprises, startups, and independent designers by reducing administrative burdens.
• Key provisions include relaxed time limits, simplified procedures, and a push towards digitization in securing design rights.
• The signing marks a significant milestone in India's commitment to fostering inclusive growth and equitable access to intellectual property protection.

In a significant move that underscores its commitment to fostering inclusive growth and ensuring equitable access to intellectual property protection, India has signed the Final Act of the Riyadh Design Law Treaty. This landmark decision was announced by the Commerce and Industry Ministry on Tuesday, marking the culmination of nearly two decades of negotiations among the member states of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO).

The Riyadh Design Law Treaty is a pivotal instrument that seeks to harmonize the procedural frameworks for industrial design protection. It aims to enhance the efficiency and accessibility of registration processes across multiple jurisdictions. By standardizing procedural requirements, the treaty significantly reduces administrative burdens, thereby promoting global creativity in design.

The overarching goal of the treaty is to ensure that the benefits of streamlined design protection are accessible to all stakeholders. It places particular emphasis on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), startups, and independent designers. This focus is reflective of the treaty's commitment to fostering an environment that encourages innovation and creativity.

Key Provisions and Digital Emphasis

The treaty introduces several key provisions aimed at benefiting design applicants. These include relaxed time limits, the reinstatement of lost rights, the option to correct or add priority claims, simplified procedures for recording assignments and licenses, and the option to file multiple designs in a single application. These changes provide greater flexibility for design applicants, thereby making the process more user-friendly and efficient.

Furthermore, the treaty encourages contracting parties to work towards implementing electronic industrial design systems and facilitating the electronic exchange of priority documents. This digital-first approach aligns with global trends towards digitization and is expected to significantly streamline the process of securing design rights.

When combined with initiatives like the Startup India programme and the Startups Intellectual Property Protection (SIPP) scheme, these provisions will help empower startups and SMEs to secure design rights globally. This is expected to boost their competitiveness and support market growth, thereby contributing to the overall economic development of the country.

India's Design Protection Progress

India, with its rich heritage of creativity and craftsmanship, has long recognized the crucial role of design in driving sustainable economic development. The country's policy emphasis on design protection as a catalyst for innovation has delivered impressive results. Over the past decade, design registrations in India have tripled, with domestic filings increasing by 120 per cent in the last two years alone. Notably, design applications grew by 25 per cent last year.

This development is reminiscent of the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works in 1886, which also sought to standardize copyright laws around the world, making it easier for creators to protect their works. Like the Berne Convention, the Riyadh Design Law Treaty is a significant step towards harmonizing intellectual property laws globally, making it easier for creators to protect their designs.