In major development to simplify the patent process, BrainLeague IP Services, a Bangalore-based knowledge management and Intellectual Property (IP) consultancy services company, has developed software 'BL' which will help companies to manage their IP portfolios effectively and efficiently.

The official launch of BL is slated at a seminar on Intellectual Property and Business Advantage held in Bangalore to be held on May 23, 2008.

The software, which is targeted at pharma-biotech sector will also address the IP issues of information technology and electronics industry. BL will enable companies to maintain, manage and use their IP effectively and efficiently. A company can track deadlines and renewals by configuring alerts. The software also provides automated alerts with regard to patent laws in India, USA, EU and PCT. A company can manage both applications and registered IP.

The software is a first-of-its-kind in the country to address the new Indian Patent Law, enforced from 2005. Its embedded integrated intelligence primarily tackles the Indian patent requirements while it will also look at the US, Europe and PCT needs, Dr C Kalyan Kankala, chief knowledge officer, told Pharmabiz.

The entire development was spearheaded by Arun Narasani, CEO, BrainLeague supported by a team of four. It took around three years for the software to be developed.

Lack of focused portfolio management companies is a big problem in India. In the US and UK companies are specifically set up to manage IP portfolio. The aim of these companies is to keep the IPs 'alive', in terms of copyrights, patents, trademarks, and other designs.

In India, law firms are handling IP portfolio management but most firms lack portfolio management capabilities because of shortfall in knowledge about laws of different countries and an efficient software to manage the portfolio. The companies use MS-excel as the only software.

The unique selling proposition of BL is the Indian Patent compliance. The company is offering the portfolio management software as a web based solution. The user registering with BrainLeague will be given a user name and password, to manage the IP portfolio online.

Further, the IP experts at Brain League provide valuable support whenever a company requires help for using the software or for carrying out any other activity regarding the company's IP. The company will be initiating its dialogue with the pharma-biotech companies as part of its marketing strategy. The cost per installation of BL is Rs two thousand, stated Dr Kankala.

IP protection is indispensable for all knowledge-driven companies. It is also critical for companies to mine, protect and manage IP to maximize its commercial benefits. This leads to an urgent need for organization-wide awareness and understanding of IP.

According to a report by GlobalSourcingNow, the Global Knowledge Process Outsourcing industry (KPO) is expected to reach US $17 billion by 2010, of which US $12 billion would be outsourced to India. The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) study estimates the Indian KPO industry to grow at 46 per cent and become a $17 billion sector by 2010.