The world today has evolved into a knowledge and information society where the property in intellectual, intangible form viz., IP is immensely more valuable, impactful and transformative than the regular form of real property. This IP has diluted the traditional conceptions of possession and ownership, and pervades national boundaries with an effective global presence. The IPRs in the form of patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, industrial designs, geographical indications, plant varieties, traditional knowledge, integrated circuits, biodiversity and traditional cultural expressions, enable the exploitation of the intellectual property by its owners, stakeholders and also aim at dissemination and disclosure of knowledge for the advancement of society.

Along with this, the digital revolution by significant enhancement in the information and communication technology, particularly the internet and its convenient, economical access, has completely revamped the ways of conducting trade and business from traditional brick and mortar spaces to computer and mobile systems. It has created a boundary less, multi-jurisdictional virtual cyberspace where identity of users is fluid, information is volatile, response is instantaneous, goods and services are accessible by click of a button, and anything can immediately be broadcast to the entire world. The digitization has not only given new, varied dimensions to the creation, distribution and protection of IP but also has increased its significance manifold. As remarked by Bill Gates, “Intellectual Property has the shelf life of a banana” and the technological advances have made it essential to be even more adept at realization of the benefits of IPRs.

The transnational nature IPRs and their growing significance has led to the evolution of a legal regime for their protection and regulation at national and international levels. Further, it has become imperative to acknowledge the indelible impact of IPRs on promotion of creative works, innovations, inventions, international trade, technology and knowhow transfer, on the one hand, and the restraints IPRs may create on free flow of knowledge and sustenance of human rights like right to health and access to medicines, right to food and food security, right to traditional knowledge and prevention of bio-piracy, right to development, right to access materials for education, right to culture etc., on the other. The laws, regulatory agencies, courts, international organizations, non-government organizations are trying to find the perfect way to balance the IPRs and Human Rights, through initiatives like provision of exceptions to exclusive right, compulsory licensing, fair-use, creative commons, knowledge sharing repository etc., but the same is eluding us till this day, making it an issue of continuous contention and contemplation.

These circumstances necessitate immediate, proactive, nature of responses to developments in the realm of IPRs. The objective of this OU IPR Forum is to serve as a platform for stakeholders, practitioners, researchers, academicians and students to discuss relevant issues through invitation of submissions. At the same time, the Forum also aims to serve as a resourceful one-stop destination for developments and legal insights in fields of IPR by providing a ready commentary on recent developments in the field from its Editors, Advisors, Consultants and Researchers and to link readers to other interesting resources and articles.

The DPIIT IPR-Chair at Osmania University is embarking on this journey of spreading awareness on Intellectual Property (IP) and Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) through the medium of this OU IPR Forum, by providing a platform for opinions, comments, discussions and debates on all issues relating to IP and IPRs, with a special emphasis on India.

We would like your full support in this endeavour. Please do your part by making submissions to this blog and also sharing it with others.

To get started, mail us at iprchairou@gmail.com; info@ouipr.in.