MCM sensitises students on Intellectual Property Rights and Start-up IP Management

Chandigarh, April 12: Intellectual Property Rights Cell of Mehr Chand Mahajan DAV College for Women, under the aegis of Institution’s Innovation Council (IIC), organised an online workshop on “Protecting IPRs and IP Management for Start-Ups” to equip students with essential knowledge on safeguarding innovation and navigating the intellectual property landscape. The workshop featured two eminent resource persons. The first session was conducted by Mr. Jatin Khera, IP Strategist at Winsome IP Solutions LLP, while the second session was delivered by Dr. Manoj Kumar Singh, Assistant Controller of Patents and Designs, Indian Patent Office, Delhi, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India.

Mr. Khera provided a comprehensive overview of the fundamentals of Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs), including patents, copyrights, trademarks, and geographical indications. He elaborated on the growing significance of IPRs for start-ups and discussed key methods of IP valuation. The session was enriched with engaging case studies, including the well-known Apple vs Samsung dispute, alongside illustrative examples of Indian start-up success stories. Emphasising the rapidly evolving IP ecosystem in India, he also shared a practical action plan to help students protect and commercialise their innovative ideas. In the second session, Dr. Manoj Kumar Singh spoke on “Intellectual Property Rights: Impact of Innovation and Ethics in Research”. He explained the IP chain involved in ideation and innovation processes and highlighted the role and timelines associated with securing IPRs. Focusing on patents, he elaborated on the criteria of patentability, particularly novelty and inventive step, stressing their importance in ensuring that inventions are industrially applicable and legally protected.

Officiating Principal Ms. Neena Sharma appreciated the initiative and stated that such workshops play a crucial role in fostering an innovation-driven mindset among students. She emphasised that a sound understanding of IPRs is indispensable for aspiring entrepreneurs and researchers in today’s knowledge-based economy.