India Signs Riyadh Design Law Treaty

India has signed the Final Act of the Riyadh Design Law Treaty, marking a milestone in global intellectual property (IP) protection under the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). The treaty standardises procedural frameworks for industrial design protection, simplifying registration processes and reducing administrative burdens. Provisions include relaxed time limits, reinstatement of lost rights, and multi-design applications, with a focus on supporting small and medium-sized enterprises and startups. Over the past decade, design registrations in India have tripled, with a 25% rise in applications last year.