ONE-YEAR POST GRADUATE DIPLOMA IN PATENTS LAW

About the Course Programme

India is ranked as the fastest emerging economy and a major global player in the years to come. The country has the largest scientific and technical human resources among top five countries in the world. With the advent of WTO regime, it has integrated its IP legislations in compliance with TRIPS agreement and is poised to be a destination for research and innovation.

Such transformation requires capacity building in the field of IPR human resources. Acquisition of patents, prosecution and protection require training and skills of IP law for technical and legal professionals.

Patents law is an area, which needs the close collaboration of the inventors with that of the professional lawyers to successfully file for a patent, and hence those inventors need to know the basic principles of law to communicate with the lawyer about the technical aspect in a legal language. Therefore the target groups of learners include policy makers, researchers, technical and legal professionals.

The Patents Law course for technical and legal professionals has been designed to disseminate the Indian Patent Law on one hand and the comparative regime in developed countries on other hand, as Patenting is a Universal phenomenon not restricted to national space. It meets the Professional needs of the working professionals in the Research and Development industries. The Course structure will expose the candidates to the basics of the Patent law, the various approaches in getting a patent, the litigation issues by way of case law discussion, the patent drafting skills, international dimensions of the Patent regime and transactional issues in monetizing Intellectual property.

Eligibility :

a. Bachelor’s Degree or an equivalent Degree in any discipline from any recognized University; or

b. Candidates appearing for the final year examination of Graduation are also eligible to apply; or

c. Candidates who complete three years of their 5-year integrated LLB Degree programme in Law are also eligible to apply.

Admission Procedure

Direct Admission subject to fulfillment of the eligibility criteria for the said course.

Course Duration

The duration of the programme is one year and the maximum period for completion of the programme is three years including the year of admission subject to payment of Continuation Fee as per the University Rules.

Fee Structure :

Course fee : Rs. 30,000/-

• Convocation fee will be charged separately as per the University Rules.
• Re-peat exam fee / Supplementary Exam fee will be charged @ Rs.500/- per paper
• Continuation fee beyond the minimum duration of the course till the maximum period is Rs.5000/- per year for Master’s Programme and Rs.3000/- per year for Post-Graduate Diploma Programmes.
• Boarding & Lodging charges at campus (subject to availability) during classes / exam will be extra as per the University Rules.

      Note: The University reserves the right to revise the Fee structure from time to time.

Course Structure (Revised w.e.f 2019-20 Batch)

The courses syllabus is broadly divided into four Subjects:

1.1 Introduction to Intellectual Propertry

Conduct of the Programme

Print Media -The candidates will be provided with the print copies of reading materials prepared by Subject experts. The reading material covers the detailed syllabi of the course. Such materials have to be supplemented by the candidate with their own readings in the internet or other available materials.

Online Support -A dedicated website www.nalsarpro.org has been registered. The candidates will get the services 24 hours throughout the year to access the soft copy of the reading materials, the power point presentations and video lectures of the contact seminar classes and previous year question papers which are uploaded in the website. The web site will be the main delivery system in terms of updating information on the subject. The access to the website will be deactivated after the completion of the course duration and will be revived on continuation of the course after payment of the Continuation fee.

Contact Seminar Classes - Direct face to face Contact Seminar classes will held for four days, twice during the course on weekends at Hyderabad. The attendance to contact seminar classes is not compulsory, but it is strongly advisable to the candidates to attend the same, as they are important to understand and successfully complete the course. The recorded videos of the classes will be uploaded on the dedicated website for the convenience of the candidates who could not attend the classes.

Evaluation Scheme  (Revised w.e.f 2019-20 Batch)

Based on the above 4 subjects, End-term written examination to be conducted in 2 theory and 2 practical papers as given below:

Award of Grades

The performance of the students would be evaluated on with corresponding grades as mentioned below:

In case a candidate obtains fractional marks, the fraction will be rounded off to the nearest whole number.

In order to be successful in a paper, a candidate shall be required to obtain at least 50% marks in it i.e. a grade equal to or higher than B.

Once a candidate attempts a paper and is declared as 'Failed (F)', his/her grade shall carry ® with the grade obtained later.

The Grade card can be collected in person and shall also be sent to the candidate by post/courier.

The Transcript can be obtained by sending an E-mail/ a written request to the Director after payment of the prescribed fee by the university.

Award of the PG Diploma

A candidate shall be declared to have passed the diploma course and become eligible for the award of the PG Diploma, if he/she secures not less than 50% marks in each paper.

However, a candidate failing in the examination can seek re-examination in the subsequent exam by paying the prescribed Continuation Fee and examination fees, as applicable.

Procedure for Re-counting / Re-evaluation

The candidates desiring of revaluation have to apply along with re-evaluation fee within 15 days from the date of declaration of results by written submission to the Director. On receipt of request for revaluation, the paper would be sent to subject expert other than the evaluator and the results of the same will be communicated within 45 days. The Re-evaluation result is final and there will be no further appeal to the same.

No candidate who has secured 50 marks or above in the examination is allowed to re-appear in the examination or apply for re-evaluation for improving marks / grade.

The recounting of the paper would be done without collecting any fee but on the written request to the Director by the candidate.

Misconduct Rules

The Vice Chancellor on the report and recommendation of the Course Co-ordinator can cancel the registration of a candidate and also debar them from examinations and further enrollment if he or she is found to be indulging in abusive, unruly behavior with the faculty or staff of the University. Such behaviors will also include abusive mails, phone calls or defamatory posts or blogs.

The NALSAR University Academic Mis-Conduct Regulations, as approved by the Executive Council of the University will apply suitably for the students enrolled for this programme.

Refund of Fee in case of withdrawal of admission

In case of withdrawal before the commencement of face to face contact sessions, 10% of the course fee / Course fee for the first year shall be retained by the University towards administrative charges;

In respect of students who withdraw their candidature after the first round of face to face contact sessions, total course fee / total course fee for the first year shall be retained by the University towards administrative charges.

P.G.Diploma In Patents Law

Faculty

In-House Faculty :

Prof.V.C.Vivekanandan (On Lien)
IPR Chair Professor, NALSAR & Director,
Directorate of Distance Education

Prof.V.C.Vivekanandan received his PhD in Intellectual Property Laws and also holds his Master’s in Corporate Law & Securities and a Master’s in Public Administration.

Prof.V.C.Vivekanandan is on lien and has joined as the Founder Dean of the School of Law, of Bennett University an initiative of the Times of India Group from June 2017. He was the IPR Chair Professor of the Ministry of HRD at NALSAR and also the Director of the Directorate of Distance Education at NALSAR. He teaches IPR, Artificial Intelligence & law, Entertainment Law. He was also the Centre Head of the NC Banerjee Centre for IP Studies and the Editor in Chief of the Journal of Intellectual Property Law.

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He was the official Indian Delegate for negotiations on Copyright and Related Rights at WIPO Geneva from December 2013 to December 2015.

He serves as an Adjunct Visiting Professor of Buffalo University, SUNY, New York since 2007 and also a visiting professor to various institutes in India and abroad. He served as the Asia Pacific representative of ALAC in ICANN and also was a member of the Nominating Committee of ICANN in between 2008-2011.

He was a NWO-ICSSR research fellow with Maastricht University in 2010 and the Research Fellow with the Institute of Intellectual Property at Tokyo in 2015.

He served as the Dean of the Rajiv Gandhi School of Intellectual Property Law at IIT Kharagpur in 2009-2010 and also as the Head of the Distance Education Department at the National Law School of India University, Bangalore in 2009.

His non-law interests include music, cinema and travel.

Mr. Sourabh Bharti
Assistant Professor
NALSAR University of Law

Mr.Sourabh Bharti did his B.Sc. from Govt. Gandhi Memorial College, Jammu, J&K, and LL.B. from Faculty of Law, University of Delhi and LL.M. from NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad.

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He teaches Intellectual Property Rights ; Administrative Law; Biogenetic Resources and Traditional Knowledge ; Law of Copyright; Law of Trademarks at LL.M. level at NALSAR.

Visiting Faculty :

Dr. Anindya Sircar
Senior IP Consultant

Dr. AnindyaSircar is currently engaged in consulting, strategizing, teaching and training programs in the field of Intellectual Property management.
Dr. Sircar had been Associate Vice President and Head of IP with Infosys Limited for over five years and was responsible for all IP activities of Infosys Limited and its subsidiaries. Prior to this he was heading the IP Department Biocon Group – a premiere biotechnology company in Bangalore, India and was instrumental in setting up the IP practices for the Biocon Group.

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Dr. Sircar has the unique distinction of two Ph.Ds. – one is Science and the other in Law from NALSAR University. During his long professional involvement in IP he has worked extensively in almost all fields of Intellectual Property and had spearhead several acquisitions programs, both in and out licensing of IP. He has figured in the Lex Witness’s Hall of Fame – Top 50 as a prominent player in the India’s legal sector in 2010.

He takes active participation in patent awareness programs and other programs involving search techniques for patent and commercial information. Besides, he is also a registered Patent Agent and Certified IP Valuation Analyst.

Dr. AnindyaSircar is a Visiting Faculty on IP at:
- NALSAR Proximate Education
- MHRD IP Chair programmes of NALSAR
- National Law School of India University, Bangalore;
- RGSOIPL, IIT Kharagpur;
- NAARM, Hyderabad;
- IBAB, Bangalore.

He is also a member of the Expert Committee on “Intellectual Property Rights” of the Karnataka Biodiversity Board. Currently he is also a member of the Editorial Board of:
- “IP Asia”,
- “Indian Journal of Intellectual Property” and
- “Environmental Law and Practice Review”.

He has been a resource person for numerous workshops and conferences on IP, also a member of the CII National Committee on Technology & IPR and National Committee of Intellectual Property Owners; FICCI-IPR Committee.

He is also an Emeritus Member of the Advisory Board of Dialog-Thomson, UK, member of Advisory Board of Origiin IP Academy and member of the governing council of IFIM Law Collage, Bangalore.
https://in.linkedin.com/in/anindyasircar

Mr.G.R.Raghavender
Joint Secretary, Department of Justice, Ministry of Law & Justice at Government of India
Former- Registrar of Copyrights

Mr.G. R. Raghavender is currently is a civil servant from Central Secretariat Service (CSS) 1988. At present, he is posted as Joint Secretary, Department of Justice, Ministry of Law & Justice, Government of India, New Delhi. Previously, he was Joint Secretary in Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India, New Delhi from August 2015 to January 2017. He also held additional charge of Director General, National Productivity Council (NPC) from November 2015 to May 2016.

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He is very passionate about Intellectual Property Rights, especially Copyright and Related Rights. He worked as Registrar of Copyrights of the Indian Copyright Office for about 6 and 1/2 years and played a key role in the introduction of amendments to the Copyright Act in 2012 and introduction of the Copyright Rules, 2013. He also initiated online registration for copyright along with payment gateway and digitisation of documents in the Copyright Office in 2014. Further, he took the initiative to adopt a special logo and got ISO-9001 certification for this office.

He attended many WIPO SCCR meetings, Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Free Trade negotiation and other FTA negotiations as a member of the Indian delegation. He made significant contributions to recently concluded two WIPO Treaties namely, the Beijing Treaty on Audiovisual Performances, 2012 and the Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired, or Otherwise Print Disabled, 2013. As a WIPO resource person and expert in the copyright law contributed to the revision of the copyright legislations of Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar. As a resource person, he gives lectures/talks on Copyrights and Related Rights in various International and National seminars and workshops organised by WIPO, Geneva and also in several Universities and Institutes all over India.

Mr.P.V.S.Giridhar
Senior Partner
Giridhar & Sai Associates, Chennai.

PVS Giridhar is Senior Partner of Giridhar & Sai Associates, a Chennai-based law firm handling civil and corporate law practice, including litigation.
Giridhar joined the Bar in 1987 and initially worked as a junior in the Chambers of P.Chidambaram, Senior Advocate. His expertise includes Intellectual Property, Information Technology, Cross-border licensing and technology-related contracts, including software licensing. He practices in the Madras High Court, the Supreme Court of India and High Courts in other states.

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He specialises in ‘ex ante IP services’ and advises on techno-legal issues. His clients include ECGC, GAIL, IIT-Madras, National Institute of Epidemiology, Pearsons, NIS, Dürr, Motorola, Blackberry (RIM), Fresnius Kabi Oncology Services Ltd., TransAsia Bio Medicals Ltd., Nippon Express, SRM Institute of Medical Sciences, Socomec, Emudhra CSL (formerly 3i Infotech), TAFE, Reddington, and Bureau of Indian Standards. He is also a Consultant at IP Dome, a firm that provides IP Strategy services, operating at the intersection of lab, law and the market.

Giridhar has handled briefs in U.S., Malaysia, and Singapore, and has been involved in International Arbitration. He is a Certified Mediator on the Court-annexed mediation panel of the Madras High Court. His Firm also conducts Corporate Training Programmes in various branches of law. Their unique methodology encourages executives to draw upon their experiential resources through simulation exercises, generating a higher quality of learning.

He has travelled widely and has lectured in various Universities in U.S.A., U.K. and Europe, including Oxford University, University of Michigan, and Brussels School of International Studies, affiliated to the University of Kent. He also regularly lectures at the Madras University and NALSAR Law University. He also teaches a specialised course on ‘Monetising IP’ in the Post-Graduate course on ‘Patent Law’ in NALSARPRO.

He lives in Chennai with his wife, Swapna (who is the CEO of IP Dome Strategy Advisors), and three children, two dogs and a cat. He is a Rotarian and his interests include music, travel, yoga, reading, trekking and dancing.

Mr.R.Muralidharan
Advocate, Law Lecturer
Patent & Trademark Attorney
Manu Associates Bangalore

Mr. R. Muralidharan is an Advocate, Law Lecturer, Registered Patent Agent & Mediator.
He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology and Chemistry (1976) and a Masters Degree in International Law and Constitutional Law.(1980). As a final year Law student, Mr. Muralidharan represented India in the Philip. C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition held at Washington D.C. USA (March 1979).

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Subsequently, Mr. Murali had also participated in a Programme on Intellectual Property Law organized by Washington Graduate School (USDA) during April 1988. He had also attended the International Law Seminar organized under the aegis of International Law Commission at Palais De Nations, Geneva, Switzerland (1991).

Mr. Muralidharan was earlier one of the founding faculty members of National Law School of India, Bangalore and worked for 4 years as Assistant Professor. Acts regularly as a guest faculty in NALSAR Hyderabad, IIM Bangalore, NLSIU Bangalore, and National Law University Jodhpur, Administrative Staff College of India, Hyderabad and many others. He has published many articles in National and International journals and has been instrumental in improving the literacy of Intellectual Property Rights and Cyber legal regimes in India by being a Visiting Faculty in NALSAR PRO Patents, Cyber and Media Laws P. G Diploma courses.

He is also a Life member. Indian Society of International law, N.Delhi-1, Mediator. Bangalore Mediation Centre(an initiative of Karnataka High Court Bangalore).He regularly attends and acts as Resource Person in Professional Improvement Programs on IP Law, Environmental law and International Trade law.

Ms.Swapna Sundar
CEO, IP Dome, Chennai

SwapnaSundar is a Patent Agent with 10 years of experience in Industrial and Intellectual Property law and related services such as filing, prosecution and litigation support in various areas of IP including patents, trademarks, copyright, designs, Geographical Indications, plant varieties and protection of trade secrets and traditional knowledge. She is an IP Management and Strategy Professional with IP Strategy experience of four years in corporate sector and institutional arenas.

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Swapna is the CEO of IP Dome (www.ipdome.in), which provides IP Strategy consultation and assists in commercialisation of inventions and IP in various technology fields. She is currently working on building processes and pipelines that are India specific – helping Indian innovations reach the market, and also assisting companies to enter India with India-specific IP strategies. Swapna writes regularly on issues relating to business and IP on the blog: New IP Century. She has compiled her experience with working on research into a manual and workbook, called IP SMART workbook for students and researchers. Information on the book is available at https://publishizer.com/ip-smart-workbook/update/.

Swapna designs and delivers customized Corporate Training sessions on IP law, IP-led Business Strategy and IP-led research helping the business to achieve and sustain a competitive edge. She also offers corporate consultancy forging long-term partnerships on IP development, portfolio management and commercialisation of IP. A sample of her presentations is available at https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=ipdome1. She also advises faculty and researchers of universities such as IIT, and incubation centres such as VIT-TBI in matters relating to transfer of technology. Swapna has conducted several workshops on IP creation and commercialisation for SMEs in collaboration with CII and MSME Development Institute.

Swapna teaches European and US patent law at the NALSARPRO patents law course. She also teaches an interactive module in Monetisation of IP along with her husband, PVS Giridhar.

Mr.T.V.Madhusudhan
Deputy Controller of Patents & Designs
Patent Office of India, Chennai

T.V. Madhusudhan holds a Masters Degree in Organic chemistry with specialization in pharmaceuticals and drugs. He has been working as Deputy Controller of Patents and Designs at the Patent Office in Chennai since 1997.

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He joined as Examiner of Patents and Designs, was promoted to Assistant Controller of Patents and Designs in 2006 and further promoted to Deputy Controller of Patents and Designs in 2014. He did his M.Sc. in Industrial Chemistry, specialising in pharmaceuticals, drugs and pesticides and graduated from REC which is presently known as NIT, Warangal. At the Patent Office, he is responsible for prosecuting patent applications filed in the field of chemistry, including pharmaceuticals. The Chennai Patent Office is the jurisdiction for the entire South India and Anadaman& Nicobar Islands. He is also responsible for the disposal of Pre-grant and Post-grant opposition proceedings under the Patent Law in the field of chemistry.

T.V. Madhusudhan has visited Bangladesh, Italy and Switzerland in his official capacity and represented the Indian Government as a delegate at various events. He was the official delegate during the 16th session of SCP (Standard Committee on Law of Patents) held in Geneva and contributed towards the process of standardisation of the international patent law.

He has delivered many lectures in the patent awareness programs in the entire width and breadth of India. He has trained new examiners of patents and design recruits at Rajiv Gandhi National Institute for Intellectual Property Management at Nagpur.

Prof.V.K.Unni

Dr. V.K. Unni is a Professor in the Public Policy and Management Group at IIM Calcutta. He has a Ph.D. in Law and was awarded the Max Planck India Fellowship by the Max Planck Society Germany in 2008.

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He is also an alumnus of the prestigious International Leadership Program established by the U.S Department of State. He has been consulted on various professional assignments by IIT Bombay, IIT Kharagpur, Columbia Earth Institute etc.

Dr. V.K. Unni teaches business laws and public policy issues. He has published on Trademarks & Domain names and other issues of Internet Laws. He holds a PhD in IPR from NALSAR University of Law.
Read more - https://www.iimcal.ac.in/users/unniv