Invest big in HR, urges Wipo

The World Intellectual Property Organistion (Wipo)'s Worldwide Academy on Saturday urged the Indian industries to invest heavily in human resource development in the field of intellectual property.

Pointing out the challenges before the industry in the post Trade-Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPs), an official of Geneva-based Academy said IP is an inter-disciplinary subject and there is a need to create awareness of IP which is a tool for national development.

He was speaking at the two-day seminar on 'Enhancing global competitiveness of Indian life sciences industry through the strategic use of the patent system.'

Anil Sinha, head (research and executive programme), Wipo's Worldwide Academy, said to strengthen the leadership quality in the industry, the academy had devised high value added and sophisticated foccused programmes which are meant for policy makers, law enforcement officials, judges, professors and diplomats.

Talking about the need for large number of patent attorneys and patent examiners, Sinha said, "It has been projected that by 2014-15, about 75,000 patents would be filed out of which 20,000 would be from India alone. Currently, there are 200 patent examiners and at least 500 examiners are required to clear these large number of patents in the country," Sinha said.

In 2004-05, worldwide 17,000 patents were filed of which India filed 3000.

The academy already has tie-ups with Indira Gandhi National Open University for a Diplomaa course in IP, he said, adding that some of distance learning subjects include biotechnology, patent drafting, and arbitration.

The Wipo Worldwide Academy has relaunched its summer school where they train 40 people at Geneva, Sinha said, adding that this year there were 400 applications and 39 persons were selected.

Speaking on 'Leveraging patents as a tool for the growth and success of pharmaceutical and biotech companies,' Jay Erstling, director, office of the PCT, Wipo, said patent strategy is a business asset and companies should steer up R&D in worthwhile directions, acquire appropriate patent rights and exploit and enforce patent rights.

Emphasising the importance of patents, Erstling said, it helps exclude competition, expand/protect market share and earn 100 per cent profit from sales. Patent also acts as a negotiating tool.

The major companies in the world are making more money through licencing also, he added.