SEMINAR-IPR

A seminar on Intellectual Property Rights (IPR): Opportunities and Strategies was held on 12th March 2013 at 10.00 am at the College Seminar Hall for 2nd & 3rd year students of Engineering branches (ME, ECE, IT & CSE). The seminar was organized and convened by Prof. TPN Singh, Advisor (R&D). The resource persons were Mr. Govind Sharma, Head (P&A), NRDC, New Delhi and Mr. R. P. Yadav, Patent Attorney, New Delhi. The topics covered by the resource persons were :

1. Overview of IPR by Mr. Govind Sharma.

2. Indian Patent System by Mr. R. P. Yadav.

3. Disclosure of invention for patent protection by Mr. R. P. Yadav.

4. Strategies for patenting and commercialization by Mr. Govind Sharma.

5. Discussion and Question / Answer session.

Inaugurating the seminar Dr. M. S. Murali, Director welcomed the guests and briefed the students on the importance of IPR. The Director greeted the guests with a bouquet and spoke on the significance of IPR and exhorted the student community to go for patenting their innovative designs and projects.

Mr. Govind Sharma gave a brief on the importance and evolution of IPR. He informed that the IPR came into existence in 1856 based on the British Patent Law of 1852 and the patents were valid for a period of 14 years. The system took a quantum leap in 1995 when India became a member of World Trade Organization (WTO) and a Controller General of Patents, Design and Trademarks was appointed under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry. Different kind of IPR in terms of Inventions and patents was explained in great detail. The eligibility for filing a patent was also dealt with. Mr. Sharma explained the business cycle from source to sink as :

Technology – Protection – Investment & Manufacturing – Production – Sales – Profits – Investment & Research

Technology is demanding and a society which does not innovate is wiped out in terms of growth and modernization. IPR is innovation by protection. There were large number of persons who had unique innovations but failed to protect through IPR and suffered immensely. For example, Don Bricklin invented the spreadsheet but did not patent it and died a pauper. Kodak had to pay 900 million dollars damages to Polaroid company for copying their design of instant photography. Samsung had to pay 1.5 billion dollars to Apple for infringement of their patents. In a nutshell, IPR means mental products which are tradeable. He further explained the rational for protection, categories of IPR, copyright and related rights, trademarks, geographical indications etc. The rational for IPR is to earn money through patent and invest in R&D. The three P’s in IPR are :

Patent – Publish – Prosper

Mr. Sharma also explained licensing, patent valuation and pricing, patent marketing and state of development of technology in terms of prototype related and process related.

Mr. R. P. Yadav spoke on the legal aspects of the Indian Patent System and disclosure of inventions for patent protection. He explained the trade secrets and gave example of Coco Cola, Scotch Beverages which for ages have not divulged the composition of their ingredients. Breeders rights – Sui generis systems was also explained. The concept of utility models was described in detail. The different acts namely The Patent Act 1970, The Design Act 2000, The Trademark Act 1999, The Geographical Indications of Goods Act 1999, and The Copyright Actof 1957 were also explained in great detail.

The seminar came to an end at 3:45 pm. Certificates to few students from each branch were handed over by the resource persons. Mementos were presented to Mr. Govind Sharma & Mr. R. P. Yadav by the Director and Administrator (Academics). Vote of thanks was rendered by Prof. TPN Singh.