India on Wednesday maintained that its laws were compliant with the trade related intellectual property rights, dismissing the United States concern over New Delhi's "reluctance" to adopt TRIPS compliant patent law.
"TRIPS continues to be a doubt in the minds of people, but facts will prove otherwise. Indian laws are TRIPS compliant, but there is a demand internationally for a stronger TRIPS regime in India, but we are fully complying with our obligations under World Trade Organisation," foreign secretary Kanwal Sibal told reporters on the sidelines of the second India-US High Technology Cooperation Group, in Bangalore.
Earlier, in his address, US Private Sector Chairman of the HTCG and Boeing Corporation senior vice president Thomas Pickering expressed concerns over India's "reluctance" to adopt TRIPS compliant patent law even as the US felt that Indian firms have a high regard for protection of proprietary information.
"By the same token, India's continuing reluctance to adopt a TRIPs compliant patent law continues to raise doubts about the commitment of the government to developing the full complement of law, enforcement, and legal practice required to afford substantial legal protection," Pickering said.
The IPR issue had an impact on private companies' willingness to conduct fundamental R&D in India.
"The issue is complex, partly rooted in misperceptions, partly rooted in India's long standing opposition to international patent standards," Pickering added.
