Expert hails IPRs role

The emerging socio and political dimension of the trade is transacting knowledge where intellectual property rights (IPR) play a decisive role," said P Ganguly, a freelance advisor of IPR, who recently carried out research works for cellular handset manufacturer Nokia and Nortel Technologies.

"There is a change in the scenario in the last 10-15 years all over the world as the World Trade Organisation is growing and has come into the play. If there is a reduction in customs duties and subsidies, then goods and services can be easily transported," he said.

"Knowledge is the key factor for the business and the whole world spin around the politics of knowledge called 'Knowlitics'," he said.

Ganguly was speaking at a seminar on managing knowledge in business organised by the Ahmedabad Management Association (AMA).

Heinz Goddar, German and European patent and trademark attorney, also participated in the seminar.

Ganguly said there is a direct combination between knowledge and the product.

"When knowledge increases, the product quality also increases in the same manner," he said.

He added that there are certain points to be followed such as idea stage, freezing options, idea feasibility, idea demonstrable, idea actionable, idea into product, market product, market acceptability and competition.

He also said that there is a legal platform of trade mark and copyright as a world class and knowledge management promotes transfer of best practices.

"Managing knowledge includes the concepts such as consolidation of organisation knowledge, gathering knowledge, share experience and building of capabilities; the innovation process like drawing selectively on organisational resource, sharing innovation and join sharing problems; the output and the market which includes business context and strategic position," said Ganguly.

"Patents if are well protected, it means that they are easily enforceable. The technology can be transfer by licensing. Here licensing means emabling which is possible by permittance, teaching enforceable IPR's and necessary conditions. The friendly side not only used for theirselve but also permits somebody else to come is known as licensing," said by Heinz Goddar.

Goddar says that IPRs for the technology transfer includes patents, trade secrets and copyrights. Sometimes the trade secrets play an important role in carrying out the business.

He added that the licensee are benefited by achieving world standard quickly, by survival in case of mail box patent and chance of cross licensing and the licensor are benefited by avoiding compulsory licensing and chance of cross licensing.

He recommended to continue making improvements in the technology and said to have professional advise while entering into license agreement. Thus the realisability and potential plays an vital role to manage knowlegde. IPR management is to encash knowlegde and also by knowlegde process, the license is achieved.