PHDCCI Hosts Comprehensive Webinar to Boost Intellectual Property Rights Awareness Among Entrepreneurs and Academia

The PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) convened a webinar aimed at enhancing awareness of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) among entrepreneurs, students, and professionals. Mr. D P Goel, Co-Chairman of the MSME Committee at PHDCCI, opened the session by highlighting the Chamber’s 110-year legacy as a pivotal advocate for India’s industrial growth. He emphasized the importance of goal-setting and perseverance for entrepreneurs, encouraging attendees to take ownership of their ambitions despite challenges.

Moderated by Dr. Sushma Goel, Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Resource Management and Design Application at Lady Irwin College, University of Delhi, the webinar welcomed a diverse audience of students and professors eager to deepen their understanding of IPR.

The Chief Guest, Shri Md. Atiquallah, Assistant Controller of Patents & Designs at Intellectual Property India, provided an overview of the Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs, and Trademarks. He detailed the office’s role in facilitating intellectual property filings and underscored the significance of securing IP rights for enterprises, particularly in enhancing their competitiveness in global markets.

Mr. Vivek Singh, Head of IP Filing & Prosecution Practice at Sagacious IP India, elaborated on the foundational concepts of IPR. He guided participants on how to identify and create intellectual property and outlined the procedural steps involved in registering trademarks and copyrights within India.

Ms. Bhawna Sharma, Head of Patents & Designs at Singhania & Partners LLP, focused on industrial designs, explaining their legal definition as the ornamental aspects of articles, which may include three-dimensional shapes or two-dimensional patterns, lines, or colors. Through a detailed presentation, she connected the protection of patents, trademarks, copyrights, geographical indications, and designs to the broader economic development of the country.

Adding to the discourse, Ms. Mandira Roy, Executive Director of Aumirah IP, discussed the fundamental components of IPR. She described intellectual property as a strategic tool that governs knowledge-based activities. Ms. Roy highlighted the exclusive rights granted to inventors, which enable them to prevent unauthorized commercial use of their inventions, thereby reducing competition and securing market position. She also stressed the importance of patent informatics and encouraged academic institutions to leverage IPR for research and innovation benefits.

Concluding the webinar, Mr. Mithilesh Kumar, Secretary of PHDCCI, expressed gratitude to the panelists for their insightful contributions. He noted the event’s success in educating over 80 participants and announced plans for additional webinars to continue fostering IPR awareness.

This initiative by PHDCCI reflects a growing recognition of intellectual property as a cornerstone of India’s innovation ecosystem and economic advancement. By bridging government agencies, legal experts, and academia, the Chamber aims to empower stakeholders to effectively protect and capitalize on their intellectual assets.