Delhi University likely to start a course on patent laws

Until now, patent laws are taught as a part of the Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) paper in the Law Faculty of Delhi University and a chapter on the subject is also included in some science courses of the varsity.

Delhi University constituted a committee to formulate the syllabus and other procedures for a course on patent law.

The newly formed committee is headed by Professor Daman Saluja of Medical Biotechnology Laboratory, BR Ambedkar Center for Biomedical Research, Delhi University.

According to the committee head, the course will help students understand what to keep in mind while filing for a patent, as many students do not know what is patentable and what is not.

Patent Law Certificate Course Duration:

The certificate course will probably be a three-four month program. The course will be useful for science students who want to learn about patent law for their research. It can be a hybrid manned (both online and offline) and can be offered multiple times a year.

“We’re not aware of what terms we should use (when filing patents), and what terms we can’t. Filing (for patents) is complicated. It’s not just filing a form… one in two days, You have to file a request for its examination. And if you want an early examination, you can make a request. If you file it through a lawyer, it’s not difficult, but lawyers charge a lot,” Saluza added. The course will help fill the gap created by the lack of knowledge.

In May, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan also suggested that Delhi University should start a short-term diploma course on patent process.

“Times are changing. Inventions in our country do not get patents. DU may start a short-term diploma course on patent process,” Pradhan said at a three-day international seminar at the varsity.

Patent Law Courses in India:

In most universities and law institutes, patent laws are taught as part of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), not separately.

There are only a few institutions in the country, including the Indian Institute of Patents and Trademarks and International Intellectual Property Consulting Firms, which offer separate certificate or diploma courses on patent law.

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