The Hindu Business Line : `US framework on IPR unlikely to see changes'

Companies adjust to pricing concerns of economies and protection of IPR is necessary to bring in innovation and new technologies: Mr Chris S. Israel, US Coordinator for Intellectual Property Enforcement.

MR CHRIS S. ISRAEL

New Delhi , Nov. 9

"We will wait and watch," said Mr Chris S. Israel, US Coordinator for Intellectual Property Enforcement, on the impact the victory of the Democrats in the US Congressional elections could have on the thrust being given to Intellectual Property Rights enforcement in India.

Though the Democrats have been known to be more in favour of protectionism (vis-à-vis outsourcing of businesses from the US) than the Republicans, Mr Israel said it was unlikely that the framework he is working under would undergo any change.

"There have always been consistent views on the issue of protection of intellectual property. It is the key driver of our economy and essential to stay competitive and dynamic," he said.

In India to meet with Government and industry on issues of intellectual property, Mr Israel told Business Line that it was a mistake to put issues of pricing to IPR, when cited the example of the recent decision taken by the Kerala State Government to give preference to Linux over Microsoft's Windows.

Often, IPR increasing prices for consumers in developing countries has been debated, but Mr Israel felt that companies adjust to the pricing concerns of economies and protection of IPR was necessary to bring in innovation and new technologies.

Important areas

Mr Israel reiterated the three key areas that the US had outlined as the framework for its intellectual property efforts with India - bilateral cooperation, education and private sector engagement. "We have seen a lot of progress in these areas," he said detailing that there had been exchanges of law enforcement experts, judges and prosecutors on the IP protection issue between the two countries.

The leaders of the two countries have expressed that they want trade between the two countries to double every three years and to achieve this there is a need to reduce certain barriers. In particular, weak intellectual property enforcement is a major barrier to increased trade. And IPR protection would be an important element to increasing and making the climate in India more attractive to private investment, said Mr Israel. He felt there was room for Foreign Direct Investment from the US to grow if a strong and effective IPR system was put in place.

He was also of the opinion that India needed to be encouraged to sign and implement the WIPO Internet Treaties for copyright protection in this digital era. Besides, effective anti-piracy campaigns could generate profits that could be used to expand local businesses and creative endeavours in the country.

On Thursday, Mr Israel met with Secretary, Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, Mr Ajay Dua, and secretaries of a few other ministries. On Friday, he will meetwith private equity players from both the countries where the discussion will focus on issues such as effective deployment of capital for research and development, doing business in India and public-private partnerships.

"In the US, we walked the talk and put in place a national level co-ordination between all Government organisations for IP protection, '' said Mr Israel. He hoped such an exercise could take place in India as well.