The need for clearer regulations with regard to patents for computer-related inventions was underlined by experts at the two-day executive programme on Strategic Intellectual Property Management for Electronics and IT Sector, which began here today.

It was pointed out that Europe was putting greater level of scrutiny for computer-related inventions. The Indian Patent Office last year issued draft guidelines for examination of computer related inventions, which indicate that most categories of software inventions will not be patentable, except those which altered or provided distinct novelty to the associated hardware also.

Trade body CII said the current trend appears to be towards making the examination process for computer-related inventions more stringent and narrower.

Sanjay Jaju, Secretary, AP Department of Information Technology, Electronics and Communications, said innovations happening now in India were similar to those witnessed in the Silicon Valley in the US in 1960s and 70s.

“Innovation is happening everywhere in Hyderabad, Bangalore and smaller centres such as Pune. Mobile internet, social media, electronic hardware and cloud computing will drive employment for the next two decades,” he said.

BVR Mohan Reddy, Chairman and Managing Director of Infotech, said: “We need at least 15 to 20 incubation centres in the two States to encourage start-up companies. These centres need to be provided with necessary support like mentors, teachers and laboratory facilities.  We need to encourage IT based start-up companies and for that to happen, we have to teach our students not to be job seekers but to be job creators.”

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