India joins global design protection treaty to strengthen IP framework for SMEs and startups

India has officially signed the Final Act of the Riyadh Design Law Treaty (DLT), marking a new step in enhancing its industrial design protection system. This landmark treaty, adopted by the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) after nearly 20 years of negotiation, aims to harmonise and streamline design registration processes across multiple jurisdictions.

The DLT is designed to ease the administrative burden for design applicants by standardising procedural requirements. Key provisions of the treaty include relaxed time limits, the ability to reinstate lost rights, and simplified processes for recording design assignments and licenses. Applicants can also file multiple designs in a single application, providing greater flexibility.

These reforms are expected to drive global creativity in design, ensuring equitable access to protection, and encouraging the implementation of electronic design systems, as reported by IANS, a partner of TV BRICS.

India's decision to sign the treaty is aligned with its ongoing efforts to boost intellectual property protection through initiatives such as the Startup India programme and the Startups Intellectual Property Protection (SIPP) scheme. These initiatives will support Indian SMEs and startups in securing design rights internationally, thereby enhancing their competitiveness and contributing to market growth.

Over the past decade, design registrations in India have seen impressive growth, with domestic filings rising by 120 per cent in the last two years alone. This move is expected to further solidify India’s position as a hub for creative industries and innovation on the global stage, the source claims.

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