National seminar on IPR underway
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, February 24 2012:
A three-day long National Conference on Intellectual Properties Rights (IPR) on Scientific Research and Development jointly organised by Patent Information Centre, Manipur Science & Technology Council (MASTEC) and Department of Botany, Imphal College commenced today at Imphal College, Imphal.
Tourism Commissioner, KK Chhetry and Principal of Imphal College Rameshchandra Hamom graced the inagural function as Chief Guest and President respectively.
Director, MASTEC Th Surendranath also attended the function as Guest of Honour.
Speaking on the occasion, Th Surendranath said that Manipur is still lagging behind in the field of Intellectual Properties Rights (IPR) and filing patents under the right.
There are Patent Rights for new inventions; Copyright for books, films, publications; Designs rights for new and indigenous designs; Trademark for logos or trademarks; Plant Variety Protection & Farmers' Right for special variety of plants; Geographical Indications for flora and fauna for a certain geographical area.
While urging the people to file for patents under the IPR for the various indigenous resources and products available in the state, Surendranath observed that people of the state could not do anything if people of other states filed for patents before them.
People are using needle as a basic necessities in their lives.
But nobody knows who invented the needle since nobody filed for its patent rights.
Likewise, if people of the state do not file for Patent Rights for various products of the state, nobody will know who invented these products, he added.
Tourism Commissioner KK Chhetry also urged the people of the state to file for Patent Rights or Copyrights for the various designs, products and resources which either originated in the state or available only in the state under the Intellectual Properties Rights.