Science & Technology - Nagaland

Intellectual Property Rights are the effective instruments for the economic development of the country today. So to provide patent related services, a single window Patent Facilitating Cell now called (PFC) was created Department of Science & Technology (DST) and as a state level extension, Patent Information Centre was established in Nagaland at Nagaland Science & Technology Council, Department of Science & Technology , Kohima in 2011.

Objectives

1.  To create awareness about IPR among the people in the state through seminars, workshops, lectures, publications etc.
   
2. To provides free patent search and guidance to inventors about patenting their inventions and other IPR rights.

Intellectual Property Rights

The term Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) refers broadly to the creations of the human mind. Protection of Intellectual Property Rights plays a key role in gaining an advantageous position in the competitive technological game for achieving economic growth. It protect the interests of creators by giving them property rights over their creations.

Forms of Intellectual Property Rights

• Patents
  
• Copyrights
  
• Trademarks
  
• Industrial Designs
  
• Geographical Indications
  
• Layout Design of Integrated
  
• Circuits
  
• Plant variety Protection &
  
• Farmer’s Rights
  

Patents

A patent is a set of exclusive rights granted by a government to an inventor or applicant to make, use, and sell an invention for a specified number of years. A patent is a personal property which can be licensed or sold like any other property. A patent is requested by filing a written application at the relevant patent office and the term is 20 years from the date of filing.

Copyrights

Copyright is a right given by the law to creators of literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works and producers of cinematograph films and sound recordings. Computer programs and software are covered under literary works and are protected in India under copyrights. In case of literary works, the term of protection is lifetime of the owner plus 60 years and in case of artistic works, the term is 60 years and for broadcasting, the term is for 25 years.

Trademarks

A Trademark is a visual symbol or distinctive sign used by a business enterprises or an individual to uniquely identify the source of their goods and services and to distinguish their goods and services from those of other entities. The term of protection is10 years and can be renewed indefinitely by paying renewal fees

Industrial Design

An industrial design relates to feature of shape, configuration, pattern, ornament or composition of lines or colors applied to any article in 2-d or 3-d or both forms which are judged solely by the perception of the eye. The term of protection is initially for a period of 10 years and can be renewed for another 5 years by paying renewal fee.

Geographical Indications

Geographical indications means an indication which identifies such goods as agricultural goods, natural goods or manufactured goods as originating or manufactured in the territory of a country, or a region or locality in that territory. The term of protection is10 years and it can be renewed indefinitely by paying renewal fees.

Layout Design of Integrated Circuits

It provides protection for semiconductor IC Layout Designs. This includes layout of transistors and other circuitry elements and includes lead wires connecting such elements and expressed in any manner in a semiconductor IC. The term is 10 years from the date of filing.

Plant variety Protection & Farmer’s Rights

It is a system for protection of plant varieties, the rights of farmers and plant breeders and to encourage the development of new varieties of plants. In case of trees and vines, the term is 18 years from the date of registration, in extant varieties; the term is 15 years from the date of notification of that variety and in other cases, 15 years from the date of registration.

Trade Secrets

Trade Secrets may be a formula, practice, process, design, instrument, pattern, or compilation of information which is not generally known or reasonably ascertainable by which a business can obtain an economic advantage over competitors or customers.

Current Activities of the Patent Information centre (PIC) - Nagaland

• Organizing seminars on Intellectual Property rights in Schools, Colleges and University
  
• Guiding inventor in filings for patent, copyrights, Trademarks
  
• Industrial Designs,GI, Layout Design, Plant variety Protection & Trade Secrets
  

Future activities of the Patent Information centre (PIC) – Nagaland

• Conduct seminars, workshops on IPR in the Schools, Colleges, Universities & Departments covering the whole State.
  
• Create IPR cell in university
  
• Provides support for Patent filing, GI registration and other IPR filing in the state
  
• IPR article Publication for awareness
  
• Setting up a IPR Library
  

Activities:

•  PIC Nagaland is acting as Inspection body and enforcement agency for GI and other IP related issues for the state.
•  Awareness programs on "Intellectual Property Rights" have been conducted to colleges, University and NGOs in the state.
•  Patent searches were facilitated.
•  Facilitated student for filing of patent.
•  G.I on "Chakhesang Shawls" has been registered under G.I no 542 with the Certification No. 301 on 31st October, 2017.
•  Awareness talks on "Geographical Indication" to various tribal hohos and women societies.
•  Facilitating for opposing the three tribal shawl for GI registration.
•  Patent Search facilities are available throughout the year to the public through the Indian Patent database and Ekaswa 'A', 'B' and 'C.
•  Publication of Information booklet on Intellectual Property Right & Released by Mmhonlumo Kikon, MLA & Advisor for Information Technology & Communication, Science & Technology, New & Renewable Energy on 4th October, 2019.
•  Hosted One Day State Level Workshop on Geographical Indication(GI) & Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) for protecting Indigenous Traditional Knowledge on Textile & Handicrafts with the Naga Tribal Apex Organizations, Weavers and State Government Departments during 4th October, 2019 at Kohima.
•  One day regional webinar on "Intellectual Property Rights" has been conducted in Dimapur Government College on 12th September, 2020 in collaboration with Research Committee, Dimapur Government College where around 100 faculties participated in the session. The technical session includes the topics like "Intellectual Property Rights and its Components", " Geographical Indication and its opportunities" and "Copyrights guidelines and filing in academic works" by the resource person Dr. Nesatalu Hiese, Scientist 'D', NASTEC and Mr. Siddhartha Devnath, Scientist 'C', ASTEC, Assam.
•  PIC conducted two days workshop on "Intellectual Property Rights" in collaboration with Fazl Ali College, Mokokchung both offline and online session for the lectures and students during 28th -29th January, 2021. There were five technical session which covers the topic like "IPR and its components: Overview of IPR", "Geographical Indication- Opportunities and Challenges", "Patent law and Copyright and its drafting", "How to write an Indian Patent" etc . by resource persons from various institutes
•  Participated in Round table on "Intellectual Property as a security asset for credit: issues and prospects", organized by Department for promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Government of India, and National Law School of India University, on 28th October, 2020.
•  Hands on online Training on "Trademark" was conducted for the staffs and officials of PIC by the Mr. Siddhartha Devnath, Scientist 'C', ASTEC, Assam during 9th -10th September,2020
•  Participated in Webinar Series on Intellectual Property Rights "Geographical Indications –Significance & Registration Procedures " organized by Intellectual Property Rights Information Centre – Kerala (IPRICK), Kerala State Council for Science, Technology & Environment (KSCSTE) on 18th December, 2020
•  Participated in National Webinar Series on Intellectual Property Rights "IP Management in Agri Start-ups in India" Jointly Organized by Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC) & Intellectual Property Rights Information Centre – Kerala (IPRICK), Kerala State Council for Science, Technology & Environment (KSCSTE) from 24 – 25, Feb., 2021
•  PIC participated in the Short term programme (online) on "Intellectual property rights" conducted by the UGC-Human Resource Development Centre, Gauhati University, Guwahati during 1st -7th February, 2021, where Dr. Nesatalu Hiese, Scientist 'D', NASTEC is the resources person and presented a topic on "GI and its Opportunities".