UK and India Enter Cooperative IP Agreement

UK Prime Minister Theresa May and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi have witnessed the signature of a landmark Memorandium of Understanding (“MOU”) between the UK and India. Having been drafted in collaboration by the UKIPO and the Indian Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion, the purpose of the MOU is to help cultivate an environment of cooperation between the IP institutions of the two nations. The cooperative relationship aims to assist the Indian enforcement authorities in streamlining IP registration processes and providing education to raise IP awareness in the rapidly growing market. A relatively short period has seen some major developments in Indian IP practice. Having joined the Madrid system as recently as 2013, the ease with which foreign brand owners can obtain trade mark protection in the country has grown significantly. With India currently enjoying the 8th highest projected Economic Growth globally the impetus for foreign brand owners to enter such a rich and varied market is greater than ever. Stobbs has considerable experience of international brand protection. If you would like to discuss your brand protection, please do get in touch.

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