The Hindu Business Line : Issue of product patents to be brought down to 6 months

The US Under-Secretary of Commerce, Mr Franklin Lavin, calling on the Minister for Commerce and Industry, Mr Kamal Nath, in the Capital on Tuesday. - Ramesh Sharma

New Delhi , May 2

Dr Ajay Dua, Secretary, Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, said that the minimum time limit to issue product patents would be brought down to six months from the present three years and the maximum period to six years from the current 12 years. ``The new rules will be notified within a day or two," he said.

While speaking at a meeting organised by industry chamber FICCI, he said the Government would invest Rs 130 crore for modernisation of the patent office and to set up an Intellectual Property Management Institute in Delhi.

Security concerns

On the US demand for lifting of the FDI caps, Dr Dua said that India's own concerns would have to be examined. He cited the restrictions in the US on what foreigners can own based on security considerations. "Our regulations are also based on similar concerns of protecting domestic employment and national security," he pointed out.

Speaking at the meeting, the US Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade, Mr Franklin L. Lavin, advised India to lower agricultural tariffs, ensure governance that is free of corruption, a transparent and efficient legal system, a vibrant intellectual property rights (IPR) regime and fully open its retail sector to foreign investment.

IPR protection

Regarding IPR, Mr Lavin said India still does not have in place a TRIPS-consistent data exclusivity regime. "Many perceive an uneven enforcement of India's existing trademark and copyright laws. Indian consumers and businesses deserve the finest IPR protection around.

India should be a global leader in pharmaceutical research and development. But until the IPR laws are world-class, research and development will take place elsewhere," he declared.

MoA with FAA

Mr Lavin further announced the opening of the first-ever Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) office in New Delhi that will enable the US to work with India through a philosophy of managed growth in aviation to ensure the highest level of safety and efficiency.

He said, the Indian Government's signing of a Memorandum of Agreement with the FAA will pave the way for the FAA to work more closely with the Ministry of Civil Aviation to provide technical cooperation, which could include a wide range of activities for air traffic control and safety oversight as well as other types of training and assistance.

Calls on Kamal Nath

Mr Lavin, today also called on the Union Commerce and Industry Minister, Mr Kamal Nath, and discussed bilateral trade and investment possibilities.

Both sides underlined the huge untapped potential to increase bilateral trade and investment. It was indicated at the meeting that an Infrastructure Summit for US investors would be organised in Mumbai by the Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion (DIPP) on November 29-30, back-to-back with the India Economic Summit of the World Economic Forum (WEF) and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

As a prelude to this, an event is also planned in Washington in June this year in collaboration with the US-India Business Council (USIBC).

In a separate meeting with the Commerce Secretary, Mr S.N. Menon, the visiting US dignitary said that he would like to explore a round table on pharmaceuticals and a business mission under the aegis of Commercial Dialogue.