In recent years, India has made substantial efforts to ensure the effective enforcement of intellectual property rights. According to the Secretariat Report, the number of cases of imports confiscated because of IPR infringement increased from 23 in 2008/09 to 56 in 2009/10. How did the ratio of the number of confiscated cases to the frequency of random checks change during the same period?
Reply: Indian Customs does not keep a record of the ratio of the number of confiscated cases to the frequency of random checks.
It would be pertinent to mention in this context that cases resulting in confiscation are a result of and are dependent on many factors such as risk profiling, specific intelligence inputs on the case and cooperation extended by the right holder. Random checks may or may not result in detection of an offence case relating to IPR violation.
