With a view to create professionals having expertise in the field of patent laws and other forms of intellectual property rights, a unique training institution 'GNA Patent Gurukul' was launched in Mumbai, two weeks ago.
Classes have been designed on weekends to suit professionals and Patent Gurukul will offer three-month duration postgraduate diploma courses in three areas related to patent and IP laws.
While PG Diploma in patent basics and introduction to IPR will emphasise on concepts of subject matter, criteria, different filing procedures and office actions, the PG Diploma in patent litigation course is focused on infringement analysis, jurisdiction issues and related legal proceedings supported with current case laws of global value. The courses are open for bachelor degree holders in the field of science, technology, pharma, lawyers, doctors, computer professionals, R&D scientists, post graduates, PhD holders etc.
The teaching methodology includes interactive lectures with live case studies and illustrations, simulation based practical sessions, case study based assignment and moot courts etc. The faculty will continuously evaluate the students through spot assignments. Periodic assignments will be evaluated and feedback will be given to the participants. The end of semester exam with an interview will be held for conferring the diploma, informed sources.
"The courses have been designed in such a way that, although there is a seamless continuity between the three courses (quarters), each one of them is independent and could serve as a stand-alone module, if need be, offering tremendous flexibility for knowledge seekers," said Kausalya Santhanam, director, Patent Gurukul.
Dr. Gopakumar G. Nair, who has nearly 40 years industry experience and has overviewed the Uruguay Round and the birth of WTO and TRIPs, heads Patent Gurukul, which claims to be a first of its kind endeavour to congregate law, science and management in the field of IP.
Classes are handled by Dr. M D. Nair, a senior industry expert, Manoj Pillai, co-founder and partner of Lex Orbis specialising in patent filing and prosecution, Sanjay Kher, a member of the Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa, and an expert in intellectual property laws, Dr. Kausalya Santhanam, a registered patent agent in the USPTO, Adarsh Chandra Nigam, a management graduate with a decade of experience in the healthcare industry, Amarjit Singh, senior partner with Amarjit Associates specialised in protection, enforcement, mediation and arbitration with reference to IP, and Makarand Waikar, a senior expert in the field.