Introduction

In continuation of concept paper of the Centre, it is brought that Intellectual property has today transformed from being an abstruse and technical phrase considered to a house hold term and one of daily use. The fruits of human creativity and bundle of inventions surround us in our day to day life. This transformation has been effected by the impact of intellectual property on the multi-faceted walks of life. The 21st century can be referred to as the century of technology, knowledge and in fact the regime of intellect. IPR plays an important role in country’s ability to translate knowledge into innovation. Innovations contribute enormously to our national and state economies thereby creating a strong backbone of the country.
Realising the importance of IPR, the Adamas University has established the ‘Centre for Intellectual Property Rights’ (CIPR) to promote Intellectual Property awareness among students, and to sensitise and encourage research in the emerging arena of Intellectual property to the Faculty and scientific personnel who are involved in scientific activity of this University. The Centre fosters R&D activities that blend with its central mission of intellectual pursuit as well as link related inter-disciplinary involvement to develop an intellectual law-database which would benefit the nation at large.

The main objective of the Centre is to evolve into a flagship institution of intellectual property law studies and centre of creative of knowledge in India. The twin primary goals would be to enhance research and expertise pro-actively in novel and emerging fields of intellectual property law, as well as become a source of information and expertise on the subject to stakeholders such as inventors, research institutions, universities, various innovative industries as well as intellectual property practitioners, policy-makers and regulators.

The approach of the centre would be multi-disciplinary; the very nature of intellectual property laws demands such a methodology of operation. Lawyers and scientists are the two sides of the coin in the field of intellectual property. Yet, often these significant stake holders are unaware of the implications of each other’s expertise in the broader framework of intellectual property. The CIPR would act as a coordinator, focusing on enriching the legal acumen of scientist and creator community on the one hand, while imparting necessary scientific and other knowledge significant to any successful intellectual property practitioner, legal and non-legal. Hence, the centre would be a host not only to legal contributors to intellectual property domain but would invite and foster involvement of experts from every emerging field of technology thus creating a very significant and effective interface between the creator community and the legal populace.

The centre would emerge as a Centre of Excellence in the realm of intellectual property law education as well as research. It would offer advanced courses on intellectual property law to law students, lawyers, intellectual property practitioners, regulators, public officials and policy-makers. Also, it would develop inter-disciplinary courses of intellectual property to non-law stream such as scientists, researchers, students and follow-up courses open to every graduate. The centre would further act as a liaison between various educational and research institutions as well as governmental organizations in enforcing optimum intellectual property mechanisms. The Centre would advance its status as one of excellence and expertise by acting as a platform for deliberations and discussions regarding current developments in the field of intellectual property law which may be of legal, social, economic as well as any related matter of public significance. The Centre plans to organise short-term Intellectual Property modules, seminars, workshops and conferences to flourish the law of intellectual property.

Other significant objectives are to encourage study and research to create advanced legal materials and jurisprudence in the area of intellectual property law; to use such jurisprudence for benefit of the Indian society; to train and to certify students in the emerging field of intellectual property law and to provide orientation and refresher courses to key government personnel; to amplify and enrich the Under Graduate/Post Graduate teaching of intellectual property law at this University as well as other law colleges; to encourage innovative and novel endeavours of research to identify and solve problems and dilemmas in the present intellectual property administration landscape; to create and to disseminate knowledge on intellectual property law among the members of the public; to create an industry-oriented intellectual property law training centre; to utilize regional as well as State-level expertise of professionals in the domain of intellectual property law by imbibing such expertise into the centre and its activities; proactively analyse future trends and develop legal strategies and reports in the arena of intellectual property and technology laws; to facilitate simplification and understanding of intellectual property machinery and most importantly to assist the legislative and executive machinery in drafting and enforcing legislations and regulations in the field and in matters related to it.

Background

Department of Science & Technology Govt. of India in collaboration with West Bengal Council of Science &Technology have established an Intellectual Property Rights Facilitation Centre (IPFC) at Kolkata.

This is the first of its kind in the state of West Bengal to be launched with a primary objective to “Boost IP culture” which would enhance the intellectual capital that is vital for the economic development of the state.

Objectives

The objectives of the CIPR:

  • To enable Educational/Research Institute & MSME sectors from states in understanding, Identifying & using Intellectual Property for Competitive Advantage.
  • To Provide Services such as IP Protection, IP Awareness & Training, Counselling & Advisory Services.
  •  To hand hold MSME for identifying Intellectual Property in their day to day business & leverage it for Business Excellences.
  •  To provide MSME, the strategic management of Technology and IPR.
  •  To create a delivery mechanism for comprehensive awareness & training in IPR to all Stake holders of IP at large.

Functions

The CIPR are focussed with respect to selected sectors on:

IPR Protection Facilitation

IP Capacity Building: Awareness & Training

IP Information Services

IP Counselling & Advisory Services

IPR Protection Facilitation

The IP Cell will be working closely with the Scientists and Faculty of this University and SMEs in the state to identify Potential Innovations/ Inventions which could be channelised into IPRs. The Short listed Product/ Process would then be assessed for suitable IP Protection. This would be undertaken by a Techno legal team constituted by the IP Cell. All forms of IPR Protection facilitation will be undertaken eg: Filing of Patents, Trademarks, Copyrights, Design, and Geographical Indications & Integrated Circuits.

IP Capacity Building: Awareness & Training

The IP Cell would strive to promote “IP Culture” in the state. It would channelise the best practices in the World through Organized Training & Awareness Program. This would be undertaken periodically so that the Faculty, Scientists and students of this University can take part with the problems of SMEs and advise in accordance with law to bring Global Best Practices.
Investor’ counselling & Advisory services
Recognition & Reward
IP Protection & Information Services
IP Commercialisation support with due-diligence & valuation
Training & Capacity
Development IP Policy inputs to the state administration
IP Facilitation Cell

IP Information Services

IP Information is a key to latest Technological Information worldwide. The IP Cell would
have a dedicated Patent/ Design/Trademark Search facility where all the latest databases
can be accessed.
The Search will be undertaken by trained specialists. The Cell will also have a Library of
latest gazettes and documents which can be accessed by all stakeholders.

IP Counselling & Advisory Services

All stake holders can visit the IP Cell and undergo IP Counselling Sessions which enable them to
understand the Implications of IPR Regime for day to day business. The Cell will also impart advisory services to the Govt. on Policy issues on need basis.

Director - Prof. S.K. Mitra

Dr. Susil Kumar Mitra is a Director, Centre for Intellectual Property Rights (CIPR), Adamas University, Kolkata. He has more than 36 years of Professional (Central Drugs Laboratory, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, and The Patent Office, Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, Ministry of Commerce & Industry) and teaching (RGNIIPM, DIPP, GOI, Nagpur; IIT, KGP; NUJS, Kolkata; NIPER, Kolkata and others) experience.

Dr. Mitra specialises in Chemistry of synthetic & naturally occurring bioactive compounds; Analysis of Modern Drugs & their formulation; Intellectual Property Rights (IPR); Patent System and their usefulness to scientific communities.
Dr. Mitra has published 22 Research/Technical papers and two Chapters in Books. He is also Member of Editorial Board of reputed Journal “FRONTIERS REVIEW”.

Further, Dr.Mitra is also Fellow of Institution of Chemists (India) for research work particularly on “Marine Toxins” specialised field in Marine Science and also Fellow of West Bengal Academy of Science & Technology for popularizing patent, a highly techno-legal subject, understanding of which is beneficial to the country for economic growth of the people.
Dr. Mitra visited WIPO, Geneva, Switzerland (1998); EPO, The Hague, Netherland (2003) and EPO, Vienna, Austria (2015) as a Trainee and Country Representative from Intellectual Property Office, India.