Team Herald
PANJIM: Goans have to become aware of the importance of intellectual property rights and more importantly take steps to ensure that what is intrinsically of this state is not taken advantage by others. This call to action was made by speakers at an awareness program organised by the MSME –Development Institute, Govt of India at a local college.
In this ever changing global scenario, the issues of IPR have gained special importance for the micro, small and medium enterprise sector. IPR protection plays a key role in gaining competitive advantage in terms of technological gains for achieving higher economic growth in a market driven economy.
G Shaber Ali one of the speakers and research coordinator at VM Salgaocar college of Law said this concept had to be better understood in the country as well as in the state especially in the MSME sector.
Goa, he said had several patents with the Konkan railway getting a patent for its skybus and Goans wining patents for a solar powered mobile charger, an angle measuring device called an anglometer to name a few. The patent office looks at the claim made in the application and verifies if it is a discovery or an invention. If it is an invention then a patent is granted. He said simplicity was not a ground for refusal of patents. Paper clip designs have won patents. Methods of surgery, plants and animals cannot be patented though plant varieties can be patented. Trademarks, copyright secrets, industrial designs, geographical indication, biological diversity, info tech, integrated circuits can be patented. Presentations were also made by T Ramakrishna Sr Professor, NLSIU Bangalore. The event was coordinated by asst- professor Shruti Kamat Dalal.
