GUJCOST GNLU Centre of Excellence in IPR

About Chair

The Gujarat Council for Science and Technology (GUJCOST) was established in September, 1986 to promote the role of science and technology in the socio-economic development of the state of Gujarat. The Council is an autonomous body registered under the Societies Registration Act, working under the Department of Science and Technology, Government of Gujarat.

The Council envisions to inculcate scientific temper to attain the development of the masses and an overall improvement in the quality of the life of the people by education young minds, assisting teachers, through various research and development programmes.

Since innovation and development of science and technology are closely interlinked with the intellectual property rights, GUJCOST also aims to create awareness and promote, training and research in the field of IPR laws in India, the Council has established a Chair for IPR Excellence at Gujarat National Law University.

Amongst many other goals, the Chair aims to conduct research, training and educational activities in the fields of Patent law, Geographical Indications, Traditional Knowledge, Biotechnology and identification and valuation of IP assets of MSMEs and pharmaceuticals.

The Chair was established in January, 2015.

Vision Statement

The Indian intellectual property regime, particularly law of patents, is a legacy of the British, and over the years the legislature has altered the existing legal framework to suit the needs of the society. In the last few years, intellectual property protection has grown in importance and popularity in the country, with businesses recognizing the value of protecting their intellectual property assets.

Intellectual Property Rights and their related laws are still a developing field in the country, but its reach and importance simply cannot be ignored. Intellectual property now touches several types of industries and businesses, ranging from pharmaceutical industry to Bollywood, and not to forget, even small-time innovators.

Due the importance of intellectual property protection to small and large businesses, it has been imperative to create awareness of the different rights provided under the umbrella term of IPR, and also to carry out research in the contemporary areas in the field, so that there is more clarity and consistency in the scope and nature of rights under IPR laws.

The collaborative GNLU-GUJCOST Research Centre is established with the vision of creation and maintenance of superior quality of Intellectual Capital through education, research, extension and training for the IPR Stake holders of India.

Objectives

The Chair aims to reach out to the multiple facets of society by showcasing the impact and value of Intellectual Property Rights, in the following manner:

• Capacity creation, and the maintenance of IPR laws, policies, practices, education, training, research and awareness through a multi-disciplinary approach;
• Development of suitable academic programs in IPR laws, policies and practices, education, research and training;
• Conduct optional, credit, seminar teaching courses, for students, and practitioners of IPR laws, policies and practices;
• Dissemination of knowledge and information through outreach programmes;
• Initiate, plan, implement, and follow-up research activities in the field of IPR laws, in collaboration with national and international stakeholders, such as law firms, corporate and governmental departments, PSUs, etc.;
• Provide guidance to students, including preparation for placement and internships in IPR laws, policies and practices;
• Provide input to legislature, executive, and judiciary, on latest trends and developments- in both the domestic and international arena, in IPR laws, policies and practices;
• Provide a framework for analyzing the impact of IPR laws in development initiatives in the country;
• Act as nodal authority on IPR laws, policies and practices, knowledge and research base of GNLU.

Team

Research

• Full paper submitted for publication for Sahapedia Fellowship on “Lost in Popularity, Preserved in Law – Rediscovering Garba as a Traditional Cultural Expression”, April 2021.
• Initiation of research on Traditional Knowledge and Access to Benefit Sharing; Human Rights and Patent Law in the light of COVID-19 pandemic, (April 2021).
• Research project on Revival and Re-Certification of GI tag for Tangaliya Shawl (March, 2021).
• Participation and paper presentation titled “The Folklore Legacy: Contemplations to Preserve What Was Made in India” for SYMROLIC 2021, (March 2021).
• Submission of articles to Practical Lawyer (an EBC publication), one on the digital initiatives by WIPO in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and on Global Innovation Index, 2020 (November, 2020).
• Submission of a research proposal for Sahapedia Fellowship titled “Lost in popularity, Preserved in Law – Rediscovering Garba as a Traditional Cultural Expression”, August 2020.
• Participation in the University project on Criminal Law Reforms, as part of a National-level exercise directed by the Home Ministry. A detailed analysis of ten provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code (Cr.P.C) was conducted for understanding the lacunae and potential reforms to the same, July 2020.
• Prepared questionnaire on Awareness of Menstrual Hygiene and conducted a pilot study in the residential areas of Bhavnagar town, June 2020.
• Research for University project on e-Courts. Authored a chapter in the project titled “In the Wake of COVID-19: Understanding India’s Digital literacy Capacity for Application of an e-Court’s Structure”, May 2020.
• Participation in an online internship program of the Centre for Social Justice, Ahmedabad on Migrant Labour (State Policies & Related Issues), April-May 2020.
• Article published in Practical Lawyer, “Human Rights and Rights in Intellectual Property — Fixing the Framework for a Better Tomorrow”, (2020) PL (IPR) April 88
• Article published in Practical Lawyer, “The Law of Geographical Indications- It is Time to Protect the Protector”, (2019) PL (IPR) September 89
• Article published in Practical Lawyer, “Human Rights and Rights in Intellectual Property — Fixing the Framework for a Better Tomorrow”, (2020) PL (IPR) April 88
• Publication of article titled “Broadening Horizon of Rights in a Technological World”, Practical Lawyer, (2018) PL (IPR) July.
• Publication of article titled “Protecting Traditional Knowledge: The India story till date”, Practical Lawyer, (2018) PL (IPR) May.
• Recommendations on Form 27 under Patent Act, 1970 titled “Form 27-India’s opportunity for tracking Patents related to drugs” submitted to Controller General of Patent, Design and Trade Mark (CGPDTM), March 2018.
• Publication of article titled “Hashtag Trademarks: An unpleasant reality of IP protection”, Practical Lawyer, (2018) PL (IPR) March.
• Empirical Research on 'Adding Life to Centuries' Dying Art: A Comparative Market Analysis between Tangaliya Shawls & Kutch work Shawls'
• Upcoming participation and paper presentation at MIPS Conference, 2018 at IIT-Bombay, by Ms. Hetvi Trivedi & Vaishali Singh. The paper is titled 'Walking Down an un-FRANDLY Road, India Searches for Answers';
• Participation and paper presentation at 3rd UPES (CoLS) Conference on Law and Technology held at UPES, Dehradun on 01st-02nd September, 2017, by Ms. Hetvi Trivedi & Ms. Vaishali Singh. The paper is titled, 'From Digital Footprint to Digital Shadow- Is a Right to be Forgotten, possible?';
• Publication of paper titled 'Human Rights vis-a-vis Patent Protection: A case study of Novartis AG v. Union of India' in Commonwealth Law Review Journal (Vol 3.1), September, 2017, co-authored by Ms. Hetvi Trivedi and Ms. Vaishali Singh;
• Participation in talk on the topic "Intellectual Property in ICT & Possibility of Leapfrogging in Digital Economy" was organized by IPPO and NASSCOM held at GLS University on 23rd February, 2017. Prof. Vipin Agarwal was a keynote speaker for the talk;
• Participation in Orientation Workshop on 'Geographical Indications' held by Patent Facilitation Centre of GUJCOST on 29th November, 2016. Mr. Shrut Bhrambhatt took a session on 'Benefits of Geographical Indications with special reference to registered GIs of Gujaratt';
• Participation and paper presentation in 4th International Conference on Intellectual Property Rights, jointly organized by ASSOCHAM, WIPO and IP India, on 21st October, 2016. Prof. Vipin Agarwal presented a paper titled 'Inconsistency in the existing IPR regime';
• Attendance in India – U.S.A. Workshop on Protection of Trade Secrets, jointly held by FICCI, DIPP and USTR for the visiting US Trade Representatives, held on 18th October, 2016;
• Participation in panel discussion, Knowledge Net Chapter meeting on 'Privacy – Redefined in the Modern World, Myths on Privacy and Evolving Cybercrimes', jointly organized by International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) & NLSIU, Bangalore, held on 24th September, 2016. Prof. Vipin Agarwal participated as a panelist in the Round Table Discussion on 'Does India Really Need an Omnibus Law on Privacy?'.

Partners

GNLU Centre for IPR

Training & Extension Programmes

Past events

• FDP in IPR by Maharashtra National Law University, Nagpur.
• IPPN (India Public Policy Network) Annual Conference 2020-2021 by Bharti Institute of Public Policy, Indian School of Business.
• SYMROLIC 2021 Annual Conference by Symbiosis Law School, Pune.
• Online Symposium on WIPO-WTO-WHO Trilateral Study on Promoting Access to Medical Technologies and Innovation by National Law University, Delhi.
• Workshop on “Research Methodology” by GNLU Research & Publications Division.
• Online public consultations on Criminal Law Reforms conducted by GNLU.
• Seminar on “Digital Content Creators – What legal challenges for creativity?” organised by Digital Law Centre, School of Law, University of Geneva.
• Webinar on “Careers in Social Sector” by Indian School of Public Policy.
• K-12 Virtual Conference on “Overcoming the COVID-19 Challenge and Beyond” by Ashoka University.
• Webinar on “Empirical Research in legal Policy: Skills and Prospects”, an initiative by GNLU Research and Publication Division, GNLU Department of Alumni Relations, GNLU Centre for Law and Society in collaboration with Vidhi, Centre for Legal Policy.
• Webinar on “Building a Research Culture in Indian Law Schools: Knowledge Creation, Publications and Social Impact” organised by GNLU Research & Publication Division.
• Webinar “From West to East: Trade, IP and Investment after the Crises” by de Fide Foundation & TIPSA
• Policy Commons at ISPP: “Redesigning Healthcare Infrastructure and Policy post COVID-19” by Indian School of Public Policy.
• The Indian Higher Education Leader’s Colloquium on the “Future of Universities – During and After COVID-19” by Jindal Global Law School.
• Webinar on “Challenges of the IP System in a Post-Crises Environment” by de Fide Foundation and TIPSA
• Launched PG Diploma in IPR in association with GNLU Centre for IPR, i-Hub and SSIP, February 2021.
• Organised launch of GAIN (GNLU – University of Akron, School of Law) IP Network, February 2021.
• Collaborated with IPPO for conducting IP Fest 2020, October 2020.
• Conducted Webinar on Impact of Drug Patents on Prices: An Indian Perspective, in collaboration with Nishith Desai Associates and GNLU Centre for IPR, September 2020.
• Presentation on National level Webinar on IPR, organised jointly by Shri Venkateshwara College of Pharmacy, Puducherry and GNLU Centre for IPR, July 2020.
• Organised Virtual International Conference in collaboration with Directorate of Legal Studies, Government Law College, Viluppuram on IPR, June 2020.
• Organised a Webinar lecture series on IPR in association with GNLU Office of Alumni Relations and GNLU Centre for IPR, May 2020.
• Organised a Webinar in collaboration with IPPO to commemorate World IP Day, April 2020.
• Organized Intensive Certificate Course on Comparative Patent Law Practices in the United States and India, 01-04 August 2019
• Organized a lecture on Introduction to IPR for Bhavnagar Medical Association, October 2019
• Organized lecture series on Introduction to the Law of Trademark and Copyright Law for Bhavnagar Medical Association, November 2019
• Organized lecture on Introduction to IPR for school students, December 2019
• GNLU- The George Washington University Law School jointly host Symposium on "Changing Contours of Intellectual Property Law in the United States, India and China" (05 October, 2018)
• GNLU-The George Washington University Law School jointly host a Certificate Course on "Patent Law Practices in the United States, India and China" (03-04 October, 2018)
• Guest lecture “Intellectual Property- Practice Aspects with focus on Biotechnology”, 16 March 2018.
• One day International Conference 'Innovation and IPR: From Creation to Commercialization' to be held on 05th February, 2018.
• One day workshop on 'Emerging Trends in IPR' to be held on 23rd January, 2018 in collaboration with IPPO;
• Half day Capsule Course on 'Trademark Registration- The Process and Practical Aspects', held on 29th September, 2017.
• Panel Discussion on 'Emerging trends in IP with particular reference to Law of Patents in India and USA', held on 09th March, 2017;
• One day Awareness Seminar, 'IP AWAKE: Awareness Seminar on Intellectual Property Rights for MSMEs', held on 25th February, 2017;
• One day Seminar on 'Interaction of Intellectual property on Pharma & Chemical Sectors', held on 04th February, 2017;
• Capsule Course on 'Patent Drafting' held on 09th January, 2017;
• National level Essay Competition on 'Trade Secrets Legislation', 2016-2017.

Opportunities/ Career

-----