Indian reforms continue: Intellectual Property ‘Infrastructure’ next?

India is in the midst of a radical overhaul of its patent system, largely due to the yet-to-be finalized amendments to its patent law that extend patent protection to products, including pharmaceuticals.  According to this article about a recent meeting organized by the Indian commerce ministry in association with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, the reform effort will now turn to the intellectual property ‘infrastructure.’

The article doesn’t explain specifically what is meant by the term ‘infrastructure’ in this context.  I suppose the term refers to the administrative process for acquiring patents in India and the legal system for enforcing them.  But, considering the number of quotes in the article relating to the benefits of the new changes to the law, you have to wonder if the meeting, Promotion, Protection and Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights, was simply held for propaganda purposes.

Remember, the changes to the patent law still must be approved by the Indian Parliament.  The political body is expected to consider the amendments beginning next month.