Subsequent to Shamnad’s post on shortened Parliament session and IP Bills I briefly browsed through Parliament to compile a list of legislations and rules, impacting innovation and intellectual property in India, which were scheduled to be debated by Parliament this session. The list can be found on the Parliament website over here. These laws are as follows:(ii) The Seeds Bill, 2004 – This Bill aims to create a mechanism to regulate the import, export, production and supply of seeds. PRS has some excellent material on this Bill which went through some important modifications after the Standing Committee Report. There have been concerns that the Bill overlaps with the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Act, 2001 (PPVFR Act). Either way the Bill, as is the case with any Bill aiming to regulate the seed market, can be expected to have a substantial impact on the innovation culture amongst farmers and plant breeders. This Bill was scheduled to be debated and voted on by the Rajya Sabha in this session.
(iii) The Pesticides Management Bill, 2008 – This Bill aims to regulate the distribution of pesticides and in the process also creates a data exclusivity regime for pesticides. We’ve blogged about it over here. It was scheduled to be debated and voted on by the Rajya Sabha in this session.
(iv) The Copyright (Amendment) Bill, 2010 – This Bill which was scheduled to be passed this session is most certainly not going through in the present session. Maybe in the monsoon session.
(v) The Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research Bill, 2010: The Bill which was introduced last year was examined by a Standing Committee of Parliament. The Bill’s title is self-explanatory. It was scheduled to be debated and voted on by the Rajya Sabha in this session.
(vi) The Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India Bill, 2011: This Bill is one of the most crucial Bills for the bio-tech industries as it seeks to create an authority to regulate the biotech sector. So far the biotech sector is regulated by a web of informal committees. We’ve blogged about it over here. The Bill will be crucial in creating public confidence in genetically modified foods and the future innovation in this sector depends on this Bill. The Bill was scheduled to be introduced in the Rajya Sabha this session.
(vii) The Trade Mark (Second Amendment) Rules, 2010: These rules were placed before the Rajya Sabha on 23rd of February, 2010.
As far as Trade marks second amendment rules 2011 is concerned, it is already operational, as TM office has initiated the operations of the amended rules from 13th January, 2011, w.e.f. 29th December, 2011. This is for your kind information.
Patent office has also published draft patent rules ……….what is official process for its approval…..do they need to be passed by parliament.
Amendments in the seed bill 2004, hasbeen presnted by Hon’ble Minister Shrad Pawar in feb 2011. The coming amended version of 2011 has widened some area and narrowed other area. As, the amended version has narrow down the protetion period 10 yeards from the 15 years, which is different under PPV&FR Act. Farmer and Seed defination hasbeen changed, panalty is enhanced, transgenic varities has given importance, total no’s of members of Central seed committee is increased( Now Chairman of PPV&FR Authority, NBA and Director of NCAMP is added.Compensation to farmer clauses enlarged.New clauses as 33A, 33B is made and the power of Central Govt to make rule also widened. Let see what will be the private seed industries reactions on the new version of 2011 of seed bill.