Varsity cell on property rights in the offing

Bhubaneswar: The SOA University here has announced to set up an intellectual property rights (IPR) cell. An exclusive IPR cell will go a long way in functioning as a facilitator cum knowledge and data base for researchers and others, according to vice-chancellor Prof. Amit Banerjee.
The VC said the university would soon invite experts in the field and deliberate extensively on various aspects involving the IP, including patenting laws, copyrights, understanding copyright and related rights, trademarks, royalty and other associated issues, an SOA media release said.
The VCs statement comes against the backdrop of a lecture organised on Tuesday to observe the World IPR Day where Dr. Bijay Kumar Sahu, an expert in the field from the National Research Development Corporation (NRDC), New Delhi, suggested the university to take a lead role in the field of knowledge protection. The NRDC, a premier organization under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), helps scientists and researchers for filing patent and comprehensive technology transfer services. It also acts as a catalyst for transforming innovative research into marketable industrial products, he said.
"If you dont do it, somebody else will protect it and take the priority," Sahu said. He said the US had patented turmeric, neem and Basmati rice for which India had to fight the case before the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to finally get back the intellectual property rights. He also advised the university to have an IP policy as also guideline for research and development and benefit sharing mechanism.