The University students would now have an option of selecting Intellectual Property Right (IPR) as generic elective subject under Choice Based Credit System (CBCS). The University Grants Commission (UGC) recently ordered all Vice Chancellors to include IPR in universities and the colleges affiliated by them.
The circular sent out by the UGC Under Secretary, Jaspal S Sandhu said that the universities should bring proposal in their academic councils for inclusion of the programe. The significance of IPR was first understood in Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property (1883) and the Berne Convention for Protection of literary and Artistic Work (1886). The IPR has two categories, the Industrial Property Right and Copyright.
The circular mentions that the creations of mind such as inventions, designs for industrial articles, literary and artistic work, symbols, names and images are protected by the Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) and the students should learn about them.
The officer on Special Duty (OSD), HNB Garhwal Central University, DS Negi hailed the initiative.
He said that the step would inculcate creative thinking amongst students. He said that the proposal for incorporating the subject of IPR would be brought before the academic council of the university.