| * www.legaladda.com launched by Law Minister |
| Mumbai, January 22, 2008: Microsoft Corporation India Private Limited today announced the awardees of the 'Microsoft Intellectual Property Scholar Program', an initiative set up for capacity building and creating a pool of specialists in the area of IT and Intellectual Property. Initiated in 2006 with scholarships for the students of NALSAR, the program has now been extended to other law colleges and universities across the country. The scholarships amount to Rs 80,000 per student. |
| The 33 recipients of the IPR scholarships were felicitated by Hon'ble Union Minister of Law & Justice, Mr H R Bharadwaj; and Managing Director, Microsoft India, Ms Neelam Dhawan. The 11 colleges to which the winners belong are: Symbiosis Society's Law College in Pune, NALSAR University of Law in Hyderabad, Government Law College (GLC) which is part of the Mumbai University in Mumbai, Army Institute of Law in Mohali, Hidayatullah National Law University (HNLU) in Raipur, National University of Juridical Sciences in Kolkata, University School of Law and Legal Studies, GGS Indraprastha University in New Delhi, National Law Institute University in Bhopal, ILS Law College in Pune, National Law University in Jodhpur and National Law School of India University in Bangalore. |
| Mr. H R Bharadwaj, while felicitating the recipients, said, "The goal of promoting intellectual property law represents a fundamental attempt to promote the overall technological, innovative and artistic capacity of the nation. Also, a stronger IP legal community in India helps us take on violations of our intellectual property abroad, ensuring Indian inventions are protected and worked domestically and internationally." |
| Expressing his pleasure at Microsoft's IP scholarship program, he added, "I am happy that today they have increased the scale of the program to a national scale to cover most law schools and universities." |
| India has some of the most progressive IP laws in the world, and paradoxically, one of the highest piracy rates too, which obviously acts as a deterrent to innovation. To build a true culture of innovation and respect for it, the country requires immediate progress in intellectual property protection. Both the Microsoft IPR Scholarships and the online legal portal are initiatives to encourage young legal students to think and start a discourse about the issue. |
| At the event today, Mr Bharadwaj also announced the setting up of www.legaladda.com, a legal online community portal for young legal eagles to interact and share ideas. |
| Commenting on the issue, Ms Neelam Dhawan said, "If India has to achieve the status of a truly knowledge based economy, fostering innovation and creating a strong IPR environment is critical. The scholarship is an attempt to create a sustainable IPR ecosystem whereby we promote, recognize and reward the best of breed budding IPR practitioners in the country today. It is an investment in India's future." |
| The scholarships are awarded basis the evaluation of students' research papers, on pre-approved topics related to IPR, by experts from the law firm of Amarchand and Mangaldas, and the Legal and Corporate affairs team at Microsoft India. |
| About Microsoft |
| Founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software - any time, any place and on any device. Microsoft Corporation India Private Ltd is a subsidiary of Microsoft Corporation USA. It has had a presence in India since 1990 and currently has offices in twelve cities - Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chandigarh, Chennai, Hyderabad, Indore, Kochi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Nagpur, New Delhi, and Pune |
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