New forum for IPR attorneys

CHENNAI: With a view to better the functioning of various Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) fora such as patent, copyright, trademark and national bio-diversity authority, a new association was launched here on Friday.
The Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Attorney Association had its maiden meeting on Friday, when it also elected a set of office-bearers.
The association president, P Sanjai Gandhi, said conducive work atmosphere for IPR attorneys was vital, as they had a key role in registering and safeguarding the intellectual investments of scientists and technicians in innovations originating from other countries or from India itself.
The association plans to hold seminars and training workshops in the field of patents, industrial designs, copyrights and GI, and to bring out a journal exclusively for IPR issues, said Sanjai Gandhi, who is an advocate trained in IPR and registration of products under geographical indication registry.
Ensuring amendments to various IPR-related legislations in tune with their current requirements and establishing regional benches for the Delhi-based Copy Rights Board in Chennai and other places are also objectives of the association, he said. Advocates' interests before bodies such as the Plant Varieties Protection Tribunal and the National Biodiversity Authority of India also needed to be protected, he said.