TRIPS

Published on 11 Mar 2025

• The World Trade Organisation (WTO) commemorated the 30th anniversary of the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS).

• Developed during the Uruguay Round of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), TRIPS came into force on January 1, 1995 at the conclusion of the Uruguay Round of General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) at Marrakesh, Morocco (1994).

• It sets minimum protection standards for Intellectual Property (IP), incorporating provisions from the World Intellectual Property Organization’s (WIPO) Paris and Berne Conventions.

•Intellectual property (IP) is a category of property that includes intangible creations of the human intellect like inventions, artistic works, names and symbols etc.

•TRIPS covers copyright, trademarks, geographical indications, industrial designs, patents, and integrated circuit layout- designs.

• Disputes are resolved through WTO procedures, and compulsory licensing is allowed.

• TRIPS provides for National Treatment, Most Favoured Nation status and Compulsory licensing.

• In compliance with the TRIPS Agreement, India brought in amendments to the Patents Act, 1970 in 2005.

Keywords:

TRIPS World Trade Organisation Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights Intellectual Property Rights copyright trademarks geographical indications industrial designs patents integrated circuit layout- designs