The Indian Patent Office, along with WIPO, is organising Roving Seminars at six different locations as part of WIPO’s efforts to promote awareness with regard to protecting intellectual property and innovations globally through the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) and the Madrid System. It is part of WIPO’s project to bridge gaps in the IP ecosystem and reach out to women entrepreneurs, youth, Indigenous and migrant communities and SMEs, including small traditional producers. The Patent Office has partnered with industry associations like (CII, FKCCI, ASSOCHAM, etc) as local partners.
The roving seminars are starting today, with the first seminar in Chennai and subsequent seminars being organised in different cities. The seminars seek to “present an overview of the PCT and Madrid System and its advantages for the applicants, IP Professionals, R&D organisations, Industries, stakeholders and the general public.” There is no registration fee for any of the seminars; hence, it is a good opportunity for interested stakeholders to participate.
As a side note, it’s curious that the Patent Office did not also partner with DPIIT IPR chairs (whose objectives include promoting discussion on IPR) established under the SPRIHA scheme, especially when universities with DPIIT IPR chairs are present in all the cities hosting the roving seminars.
