On March 15, 2024, the Indian Ministry of Commerce and Industry, overseeing the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, announced revisions to the 2003 Patent Rules. These modifications were documented in the Official Gazette and are formally referred to as the 2024 Patent (Amendment) Rules. The amendments of 2024 have implemented provisions aimed at strengthening the patent safeguards for divisional applications. These adjustments, which align with the progression of legal precedents and global norms, establish more definitive protocols for the

submission of divisional applications. According to Nasscom, just like the global trends, India witnessed 83,000 patents being filed in FY2023, marking an annual growth rate of 24.6 percent, the highest in the last two decades.

However, given the prevailing cutthroat competition across markets, scandals, financial crises, and the globalization of anything and everything, it could create stumbling blocks in your organization’s patent journey, not to mention the dynamic and swiftly evolving compliance landscape. Compliance is increasingly becoming a facet of continuing success stories. Ethical guidance and long-term risk management are paramount, whether a startup or an established organization.

Hence, the role of a General Counsel has become increasingly important and complex while undergoing a lot of transformation over the past few years, especially in India. In truth, organizations worldwide now need General Counsel to manage the IP & compliance department similarly to operational units and, in turn, directly contribute to organizational growth. In this issue, we shed light on a few General Counsel in India who lead by example.