Statement by India during the Twenty-Second Session of Working Group on the Legal Development of the Madrid System for the International Registration of Marks, 7 - 11 October 2024

Opening statement:

Chair, as India takes the floor for the first time today, the Indian Delegation would like to extend its warmest congratulations to you and your vice-chairs on your recent election. We would like to take this opportunity to extend our heartfelt and sincere appreciation to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) for their outstanding work in assembling an exceptional collection of documents. The meticulous effort and dedication that have gone into curating these resources are truly commendable.

2. Chair, we want to emphasize that our collaboration with WIPO has lasted more than a decade. We take pride in being acknowledged as one of the leading countries in designations, with an impressive designation exceeding 12,000 annually. We are committed to providing a smooth and efficient experience within the Madrid system for all our stakeholders.

3. Chair, we would also like to draw attention to India's recent implementation of Trademark Search Technology, which is driven by artificial intelligence and machine learning, alongside the introduction of the IP Saarthi Chatbot. Given the increasing volume of applications, there is an urgent necessity to embrace technological solutions that can improve the examination process and provide a more efficient and reliable public search platform. The integration of AI and ML technologies presents substantial opportunities to automate routine tasks, thereby ensuring both efficiency and accuracy.

4. Chair, India’s AI/ML-based chatbot is designed to offer the public and stakeholders precise and pertinent information regarding the various legal provisions under the trademark statute. This initiative aims to streamline the trademark application process, reduce disputes, and assist both applicants and rights holders in safeguarding their trademarks in India.

5. Chair, India has consistently gained from WIPO's collaboration and support in advancing the implementation of the Madrid system at the national level. We have always valued WIPO's commitment to fostering dialogue and knowledge sharing within the intellectual property domain. As we engage in this meeting, we look forward to exploring collaborative strategies that genuinely reflect the interests of all stakeholders involved in the Madrid system, while anticipating the positive effects of WIPO's initiatives on our collective understanding and progress.

Item 4 (Mandatory e-mail ID submission) 

Chair,

6. India commends the initiative regarding the mandatory submission of email IDs and recognizes email as a quick, economical, and environmentally friendly communication method that enhances productivity and offers a dependable record of information.

7. Its effectiveness is crucial, and we support this proposal. We would like to express our sincere appreciation for the proposal aimed at amending Rules 3, 20bis, 24, and 25 of the Regulations. This initiative is important as it requires holders and their representatives to provide email addresses for requests under these rules, enhancing communication efficiency and ensuring timely updates to all stakeholders.

Thank you Chair.

Item 6 (Proposal by Moldova)

8. Chair, India would appreciate additional time to thoroughly evaluate the viability and implications of both options. We aim to engage with our stakeholders to gather their insights, ensuring we have a comprehensive understanding of the potential impacts.

Thank you.

Item 7 (Dependency)

Chair,

9. India would like to express its unwavering commitment to strengthen the international trade mark registration systems.

10. We extend our support to the proposal on maintaining the Basic mark requirement while shortening the dependency period from five to three years. In this regard, India would like to emphasize the significance of preserving the necessity of the basic application. By maintaining the Basic mark requirement, we ensure that trade mark holders can rely on a consistent and credible framework for their intellectual property protection.

Chair,

11. We support this proposal, recognizing that it safeguards the credibility of trademark holders and acts as a key measure to prevent the registration of prohibited marks beyond the office of origin.

12. We believe that this approach streamlines the process and eliminates the need to consider complex factors such as indirect or direct filing, self-designation, and third-party central attack.

13. We look forward to working closely with the member states to effectively deliberate on the proposal.

Thank you Chair.

Item 8 (introduction of new Languages)

Chair,

14. India, being one of the most linguistically diverse countries in the world, recognizes the importance of linguistic diversity and extends its support to promote inclusivity. As the chair would be aware we have 22 official languages in the Indian Parliament itself. We believe that decisions on the inclusion of new languages into the Madrid system may be taken after a suitable evaluation of its feasibility in an objective and non-politicized manner.

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