VICE-CHANCELLOR of the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) Prof Panjab Singh on Monday said people should understand the implications of trade- related Intellectual Property Rights, Document and the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
Speaking as chief guest at a national seminar on “Patenting Biotechnology’ organised, jointly by the National Research Development Corporation (NRDC) and the department of Bio-technology, Govt of India, the Vice Chancellor gave a historical account of intellectual property rights, including patent, both globally and in India. Inventions are based on basic research, and it should be done after raising awareness of Intellectual Property Right (IPR) on the subjects concerned by the researcher, he said.
He added: “We should, first of all, search for other rights in the areas, which are already existing so that our efforts may not be wasted and duplicity is avoided. “Area of bio-technology in patenting is especially important because it is a multi- disciplinary area including health, agriculture,” he said. “The diseases like AIDS are a challenge before us and intellectual property management is a very important factor in this area,” he further said.
If a farmer was well conversant with IPR, then only, he could save his interest in today’s complex global IP scenario, he said.