Article
Intellectual Property Rights: A Systematic Literature Review in the Indian Context
This study presents a systematic literature review of Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) in the Indian context, examining their evolution, legal framework, economic significance, and emerging challenges. The review highlights the influence of the TRIPS Agreement, domestic legislation, constitutional principles, technological development, and judicial interpretation on India's intellectual property regime. It covers major forms of intellectual property, including patents, copyrights, trademarks, geographical indications, and traditional knowledge, with particular attention to their role in promoting innovation, creativity, economic development, cultural preservation, and public welfare. The findings reveal a continuing need to balance exclusive rights with broader public interests, particularly regarding pharmaceutical patents, access to medicines, competition, and knowledge dissemination. The literature also identifies increasing challenges arising from digital technologies, artificial intelligence, online infringement, biotechnology, and technology-generated works. Furthermore, geographical indications and traditional knowledge demonstrate the importance of protecting community-based and culturally significant intellectual assets. Despite substantial legal and institutional development, gaps remain regarding enforcement effectiveness, accessibility, administrative efficiency, and empirical assessment of IPR outcomes. The review concludes that future research should adopt an integrated legal, economic, technological, and social perspective to evaluate the actual effectiveness of India's IPR framework and its contribution to innovation, entrepreneurship, sustainable economic development, and public welfare.