Intellectual Property Association of South India launched

Chennai, Apr 26: There was a need for creating more awareness about intellectual property rights, trademarks and patents to help the growth of the country''s economy, Madras High Court Judge Justice P Jyothimani said today.

Speaking on the occasion of inauguration of Intellectual Property Association of South India (IPASI) here, he said seminars and educative workshops should be conducted on trademarks, patents, copyright, design.

Besides, better intellectual property support systems should be made available to Micro, Small and Medium Scale Industries, he said.

The inauguration of IPASI, formed by Chennai-based practitioners specialising in Intellectual property laws, coincided with the World Intellectual Property Day.

M.S.Bharat Ram, Secretary of IPASI, said there was a long felt need for a collective and democratic body to represent the interests of all members in the field of Intellectual Property law, including lawyers, patent agents and academia.

Chennai had been the hub for many Intellectual Property offices, including the Trademark and Patent Office catering to the Southern States of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Union Territories of Pondicherry and Lakshwadeep Islands.

Further, the Intellectual Property Appellate Board and the Geographical Indication Registry was head quartered here, he pointed out.

IPASI President Perumbulaval Radhakrishnan said the primary objective of the association was to promote understanding, unity and development amongst all the persons practicing in the field of Intellectual Property. The association was looking to build strong relations with the judiciary, academic community and industry in furthering its objectives, he added.

PTI