The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has invited bids from law firms seeking assistance to protect the intellectual property rights (IPRs) of Basmati rice.
"Applications are invited from law firms to assist APEDA in the task of registration and protection of IPR in respect of Basmati rice in India and abroad," an APEDA official said. Bidders should submit both technical and financial bids separately by December 10. The final decision on the tender would be taken two weeks after the bids closed, he said.
According to the tender notice, law firms which are established for more than five years ago and have an annual turnover of Rs 5 crore in IPRs in the last three years, can participate in the bids, he said, adding the firms should also have more than five years of experience in handling matters relating to geographical indications.
The selected law firm would have to advise the APEDA on protection of the Basmati vis-à-vis the entire spectrum of intellectual property laws and assist in registration of Basmati in the country and abroad.
The APEDA has been vested with statutory power to deal with IPRs of special agricultural products including Basmati rice.
