Context:

Recently, India has signed the Final Act of the Riyadh Design Law Treaty (DLT), reinforcing its commitment to promoting inclusive growth and enhancing its intellectual property (IP) framework.

More on the news: 

• After nearly 20 years of negotiations, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) member states adopted the DLT. 
• The treaty aims to harmonize and streamline industrial design protection processes globally, benefiting a wide range of industries, particularly small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

Key Objectives of the DLT:

• Harmonization of Procedures: The treaty seeks to standardize procedural frameworks for industrial design protection thus making it easier and more efficient to register designs across different countries.
• Creativity Boost: By simplifying administrative processes, the DLT encourages creativity and innovation in the design sector worldwide.
• Encouragement for Digital Transformation: The treaty encourages contracting parties to implement electronic industrial design systems and facilitate the electronic exchange of priority documents, simplifying global design protection processes further by using digital technology.

Key Provisions of the DLT:

• More flexible time limits for design applicants.
• The treaty allows the reinstatement of rights that were previously lost due to missed deadlines.
• Applicants can correct or add priority claims when necessary.
• The treaty introduces easier processes for recording assignments and licenses of designs.
• Designers can now file multiple designs in a single application, saving time and resources.

Expected Benefits of the DLT for India:

By signing the DLT: - 

• India enhances its role in global design protection, aligning its legal and regulatory frameworks with international standards.
• India ensures that Indian designers benefit from more accessible and efficient protection mechanisms.

The treaty focuses on improving access to design protection for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), startups, and independent designers, ensuring that they benefit from the streamlined design protection system.

India’s Scenario in Design Protection:

• India has made significant strides in design protection over the past decade, with design registrations tripling.
• Domestic filings for design protection have increased by 120% in the last two years, with design applications growing by 25% last year alone.
• India's policy focus on design protection has proven to be an important driver of innovation and economic growth.
• India ranks among the top 10 globally for patents, trademarks, and industrial designs. 
• India recorded the fastest growth among the top 20 origins in patent applications, marking its fifth consecutive year of double-digit growth in this area.