The proposed Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Academy has proved a non-starter four years since it was mooted first.

The Governor, Mr R. L. Bhatia, had announced in the State Assembly in February 2008, that the ‘draft IPR policy will be finalised during the year (2008-09) and an IPR academy launched.’

BOLD PROPOSAL

The policy announcement was not significant merely because it was the first time that a state government making such a proposal, says Mr Praveen Raj, an IPR expert and a former examiner of patents.

Many well-known institutes in India offer postgraduate courses in IPR and management, but an ‘IPR academy’ is a very unique concept.

“A larger cross-section of our scientific workers is yet to be made fully aware of the necessity of harnessing a strong IPR system to their best advantage.”

Also people need to be made aware of the need to protect traditional knowledge from private appropriation, Mr Raj said.

CAREER IN IPR

Research institutions and universities need to be trained to secure legal rights on their own creations, he added.

Given these, there are good prospects for those who are opting IPR for higher education. Career as an IP professional (attorneys, patent agents, examiner of patents or IP management experts) is highly rewarding.

Meanwhile, Business Line has learnt from RTI activists that the law department has stonewalled any attempt to get a status update on the IPR academy.

Dr G.S. Lekha and Mr Prasanth S., the two activists, have been in regular touch with the Public Information Officer (PIO) of the department but to no avail.

NOT ACCESSIBLE

In letter No 11478/Nodal I/09/Law dated 09.07.2009 the PIO said: “..(sic) The request under section could not be considered favourably since the information sought for is not accessible under section 8(1)(i) of the Act.. the proposal is under different levels of deliberations.”

Mr Prasanth said he then preferred the first appeal to the appellate authority in Law Department for intervention in the matter. But the appellate authority, vide letter no. 12462/Nodal I/09/Law dated 27/07/2009, turned down the request.

> vinson.kurian@thehindu.co.in

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