US shines but India falters in IP index report
The US has ranked first and Venezuela last in an annual run-down of which countries have the most effective intellectual property regimes.
In the “ 4th Annual International IP Index”, published by the US Chamber of Commerce’s Global Intellectual Property Center (GIPC) today, February 10, 38 countries are ranked and profiled.
The countries account for about 85% of global gross domestic product, the GIPC said.
Each country’s score, which is out of 30, is based on six indicators—patents, copyright, trademarks, trade secrets, enforcement, and international treaties. The latest edition of the index also includes estimates on the level of counterfeiting in each country.
India and Venezuela were named as being part of a “distinct group” that has significant weaknesses concerning the availability and enforcement of IP rights.
According to the report, an overall score approaching 30 is “indicative of a highly robust IP system”.
The US finished top of the pile with 28.6 points, while the UK and Germany finished second and third on 27.5 and 27.3.
Bottom-placed Venezuela scored 6.4, while second-bottom India achieved 7 points.
The report said Venezuela and India, together with Thailand and Vietnam, were separated by less than 1.5 points.
“Venezuela, a new addition to the index, has the lowest score of all economies with serious legal and enforcement deficiencies in all categories of the index,” the report added.
Among the key findings of the report were the Canadian government’s decision to extend the copyright term for sound recordings to ‘life plus 70 years’ and an improvement to Malaysia’s IP system due to its being a part of the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations.
Canada and Malaysia were ranked 15th and 17th respectively.
David Hirschmann, president of the GIPC, said: “This year’s index illustrates that many countries embraced the upward momentum in the global intellectual property environment, and continued to take steps to improve their IP systems.
“Countries should look at the index and incorporate the infinite possibilities that exist to improve their IP environment to encourage the next greatest innovation to take place on their soil.”
