Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) in India are governed by various laws to protect copyrights, patents, trademarks, and other IP forms. The Copyright Act, 1957 protects literary, dramatic, musical, and artistic works for the author's life plus 60 years. The Patents Act, 1970 provides patent protection for 20 years, covering novel, inventive, and industrially applicable inventions. The Trade Marks Act, 1999 grants exclusive rights to registered trademarks, lasting for 10 years and renewable indefinitely.
Other IP laws include the Designs Act, 2000, protecting product designs for up to 15 years, and the Geographical Indications Act, 1999, safeguarding products linked to specific locations (e.g., Darjeeling Tea). The Semiconductor Integrated Circuits Layout-Design Act, 2000 protects circuit designs, and the Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Act, 2001 protects new plant varieties.
IP enforcement includes civil and criminal remedies, with authorities such as Indian courts, the Intellectual Property Appellate Board (IPAB), and the Customs Department for countering counterfeit goods.
