US Industry Index Makes Case For Strong IP Protection Worldwide

The United States Chamber of Commerce sixth annual International IP Index, released yesterday, highlights positive developments in 50 economies to better protect intellectual property rights so as to reward creativity and innovation. But it also takes aim at practices the US industry group still sees as counterproductive.

This year’s International IP Index is entitled, “Create,” and ranks economies based on 40 indicators measuring activity on patent, trademark, copyright and trade secrets protection, the Chamber said in a release.

The 189-page report, authored by IP industry favourite the Pugatch Consilium, found the United States to again be at the top, followed by the United Kingdom, Sweden, France and Germany. The majority of the top-ranked countries are from Europe, with Japan, Singapore and South Korea joining in. Switzerland is ranked number 10.

China was ranked relatively low at number 25, and the report said, “China adopted proposals to strengthen biopharmaceutical innovation through its patent linkage opinion and expanded regulatory data protection proposal, yet IP-intensive industries continue to face significant market access barriers.”

India, a constant target for industry hopes as a major potential market, remained in the relative “doghouse” – the 44th spot – for its practices, though earning a slight upward move for “the passage of guidelines to improve the patentability environment for technological innovations” and some steps to raise awareness about IP.

“The results of this year’s Index illustrate a growing global commitment to IP-driven creativity and innovation,” David Hirschmann, president and CEO of Chamber’s Global Innovation Policy Center, said in the release. “The majority of countries took steps to strengthen their IP systems and foster an environment that encourages and incentivizes creators to bring their ideas to market. While a clear pack of leaders in IP protection top the rankings, the leadership gap has narrowed in a new global race to the top. There is still work to be done, and we hope governments will use this Index as a blueprint to further improve their IP ecosystems and grow competitive, knowledge-based economies. When countries invest in strong IP systems, we all benefit.”

New indicators added this year include:

Membership in Patent Prosecution Highways (PPHs)

“Expeditious injunctive-style relief and disabling of infringing content online”

IP as an economic asset (commercialization)

According to the release, “The Index provides a guidebook for policymakers who wish to bolster economic growth, job creation, innovation, and creativity through a strong IP framework.”

And one previous indicator was removed this year: “Discrimination/restrictions on the use of brands in packaging of different products”

The report ranks the IP systems in: Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Egypt, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya,  Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Venezuela, and Vietnam.

The International IP Index is available online here.