U.S. official blasts Indian patent system

EE Times ^ | 12/04/2006 | K.C. Krishnadas

[indthkr]

A U.S. official leading a business delegation here called India's patent and copyright laws antiquated and unable to offer protections necessary for foreign companies to operate here.

"Patent and copyright laws in India are old and back-dated and they no where match the world standards," said Franklin Lavin, undersecretary of Commerce for international trade. India and the U.S. "need to sit and work out a proper regulatory framework by identifying the weak areas. India needs to seek more participation by U.S. companies."

Addressing a business seminar in New Delhi, Lavin said India needs to modernize its patent and copyright laws to attract more foreign capital. Lavin is leading a business delegation that includes 225 U.S. corporate executives from about 100 companies such as IBM, AT&T and Motorola.

Along with New Delhi, the delegation was scheduled to visit Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata (Calcutta) and Mumbai.

India has been a member of the World Trade Organization since 1995. Intellectual property provisions of the trade body require members to protect a range of IP including semiconductor layouts and designs

[indthkr]

I thought the U.S. had IP issues worked-out with India; apparently not.

[Young Werther]

In the early 70s, (I knowe another war story), I was stationed at Minot AFB as a Comm Officer. One of the Sergeant's in our Tech division was taking care of his retirement by patenting US patents in Spain.

There was no reciprocity regarding patent protection. Therefore, once he had a Spanish Patent he could weedle payments from US or other foreign companires that wanted to introduce their products in the Spanish/European market. He maintained his accounts in a Cayman Island Bank to protect his "investments" from US taxation!