Editorials

by Rajen Kumar

No Escaping Social Media

Running a magazine concentrating on issues of small and medium enterprises and managing with limited resources is a like living life on the edge. In this rush of meeting deadlines,...

Special Reports

Apr 2012

EMRC, Brussels Associates with SME WORLD as its New Media Partner

EMRC has promoted business partnerships with the developing world and has organised dozens of business forums in key decision-making cities, such as Amsterdam, Rome,...

Interviews

Manisha Gupta on IPR

Rasika Gokhale Athawale
May 2010

SMEW: What is the role of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) for MSMEs, especially for those enterprises having innovation and R&D as prominent aspect of their business?

MG: For micro, small and medium enterprises that are into innovation and R &D, Intellectual Property has a major role to play. Since these are knowledge intensive and innovation driven enterprises generating knowledge capital, it is but obvious that they need to protect this knowledge base. This can be done by registering their IP rights. This way such enterprises can gain from their research & innovation and at the same time prevent unauthorized use of their IP.

SMEW: How IPR can help the SMEs in value creation?

MG: IPRs can help SMEs in value creation by enabling them to capitalize on their intangible assets. Moreover, these rights also act as incentive for further creation, and innovation thus generating more IP and therefore more value.

SMEW: What is your comment on the Government's approach towards the spreading awareness for IPR and implementation of patent laws?

MG: I feel the Government has come up with very good schemes for spreading IPR awareness in some areas. Only if these schemes are continued and the process of awareness creation expedited, it will be extremely beneficial.

SMEW: IPR and patent laws are considered to be applicable to the upper crust of the industrial sphere. Forget about the sufficient understanding of intricacies of patent laws, the micro enterprises (either its service sector or manufacturing segment) are not even willing to employ these techniques due to the cost factor. Your comment.

MG: See, what one needs to understand clearly is that IPRs does not necessarily mean “Patents”. Especially in the case of M/SMEs, where budget and money is a constraint, they should be smart enough to clearly identify the kind of IP assets they possess. And they'll realize that protecting and managing their IP is quite affordable. So these enterprises should look and think beyond patents too, which is a costly affair!

SMEW: What does IPR training envisage?

MG: IPR training comprises of awareness creation, sensitization and teaching of the discipline. Depending on the target group, one needs to make them aware of the relevant intangible assets and the associated IP rights. Also, they should be sensitized on how these rights can be used to their economic advantage.

IPR training, I feel is the most important component of the whole process because it forms the very foundation of understanding of the basics of the subject. It is at the training stage that the entrepreneur or IP creator learns the kind of IP he has and what is the best and the most cost effective way of protecting and managing it. Also, during training, many myths are cleared and the person concerned is on the right path to understanding exactly how and how much he can gain from use of the Intellectual Property system.

Training is an ongoing stage wise process and there's always more to learn as one crosses over from one level to the next.

SMEW: Is there any elaborate government programme towards IPR awareness?

MG: Yes, the Government has come up with schemes and programmes to spread IPR awareness in specific sectors. Under the “National Manufacturing Competitiveness Programme”, there is a scheme for building awareness on IPRs for MSMEs for the empowerment of such enterprises. There is also a provision for assistance for grant on patent or GI registration.

Also, a few years ago, the Ministry of Culture had come up with a scheme on awareness creation on IPRs for Artisans etc. but unfortunately that scheme has been dropped sometime back. This is a pity because the scheme, if implemented, would have benefited a huge section of society.

SMEW: What is required in the area of IPR in India?

MG: See, from the context of India, I feel it is more important to use IPRs as a tool for social & economic empowerment of the grassroots creative communities such as our artisans & crafts persons in various clusters. Moreover, these IP rights can be very apt for the small or medium entrepreneur, who can benefit greatly from an intelligent assessment of his IP assets and further protection of these as IP rights.

For a country like India, the most important of IPRs is the Geographical Indications tool which confers rights and accruing benefits to entire communities of producers of genuine products from different regions. This therefore will have the largest impact and can be a strategic tool for rural development and poverty alleviation!

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