Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) are important instruments to foster a culture of innovation. IPRs essentially protect brands, inventions, designs, creative, and literary works from being copied and commercially exploited by third parties. They grant exclusivity to the creators or owners of IPRs to commercially exploit their works. The exclusivity and potential gains by commercial exploitation of the IPRs act as an incentive to promote innovation in various fields. IPR protection grants legal rights in favour of the rights owner who may restrain third parties for using his IPRs and also claim damages.

MSME sector is one of the largest contributors to the Indian economy, however, awareness about IPRs is lacking in Indian MSMEs. IPRs include trademarks, copyrights, patents, geographical indication and industrial designs and protecting them enhances the competitiveness of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). Intellectual Property Awareness Scheme was launched by the Cell for IPR Promotion and Management (CIPAM) in association in association with the MSME-Development Institute, Kolkata under the Ministry of MSME, Government of India with an objective to enhance the awareness of IPR in the MSME Sector by conducting seminars/workshops covering topics like international filing procedures, impact of counterfeiting and piracy, promote government schemes for filing of IPRs and how to use IPR as an asset to grow business.

During this global pandemic, these small scale enterprises have shown tremendous economic potential in the form hosting their businesses on online platforms to increase consumer outreach. A business that has a trademark or a logo or any mark that distinguishes them from their peers, among their customers/clients, and registering it can just ensure that nobody else in their trade or industry is able to use that mark anymore, and this exclusivity allows the MSME to attach goodwill, of quality product/service, to that mark at lower costs. This is the time to advertise these protected assets to the masses in order to gain recognition and demand in their respective industries.

Some examples include- Copyright on any original literature, from regulatory to marketing literature such as brochures, pamphlets, package insert, product manuals etc, restraining anyone else in their industry from using that patented product, machine or process in their (competitors’)factories, Geographical Indications (GI), held by a collective such as an association of industries or handicraft makers like Banarasi Silk, Darjeeling Tea, Chanderi Fabric, Udayagiri Wooden Cutlery, allow the MSMEs of that geographical region by which these GIs are identified to use the related marks and/or logos on their products, and preclude MSMEs of other regions from branding.

Besides, the various speakers from MSME Department, Govt.of India and the Federation of Associations of Small Industries of India, the eminent IP Attorney Biswajit Sarkar who is widely regarded in the industry circles will speak for the program. He is having wide experience of handling complicated matters in IPR and successfully completed two world-renowned cases, such as registration of a particular address as trademark of 6 Ballygunge Place and creating copyright protection for Missionaries of Charity founded by Mother Teresa. Mr.Biswajit Sarkar is empanelled with different Embassies, Consulates and Chambers of Commerce.

To give back to the society, his firm regularly takes interns from law institutes countrywide. Mr.Sarkar is regularly invited by Universities, Law Colleges, National Judicial Academy, Government  Bodies and various Chambers of Commerce to give lectures to spread awareness of the role of IP in modern business.

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