Introduction

Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) is emerging as a strategic business tool to enhance Industrial Competitiveness. Geographical barriers to trade among nations are collapsing due to globalization. IPR plays a key role for any business organization to stand out in the world of competition and provides the desired “Winning edge” over the Competitors. The Indian Ordnance Factories and Defence PSUs can sustain in this competitive world through continuous growth and development-oriented innovations. However, these organizations would need information, facilities and capacities to protect IPs thus created. These organizations can avail various forms of IPR to protect their intellectual creation.

Intellectual Property Facilitation (IPF) Cell

In order to promote creation of Intellectual property in the sector, an Intellectual Property Facilitation (IPF) Cell has been set up in Department of Defence Production .IPF Cell will provide general advisory about IPRs, such as patents, trademarks, designs and copyrights and Services such as IP Protection, IP Awareness & Training and Counseling& Advisory Services.

Role and responsibilities of the IPF Cell:

• To provide general advisory about IPRs, such as patents, trademarks, designs and copyrights etc.
• To Provide Services such as IP Protection, IP Awareness & Training and Counseling& Advisory Services.
• To enable organizations/individuals in understanding, Identifying & using Intellectual Property.
• To provide services related to patent searches, patent drafting, patent prosecution, facilitation in commercialization of Inventions, trademark prosecution matters, etc.
• To follow up the applications submitted for patents with various government agencies for speedy clearances and early grant of patents.
• Keep the above organizations abreast of the latest amendments, if any, in the Indian Patents Act 1970 and Indian Patents Rules 2003 promulgated by the Government.
• To create IP News Tracker for latest news in Intellectual Property, patents, industrial designs, trademarks, copy rights, IP Office India etc
• To hand hold organizations/individuals for identifying Intellectual Property in their day to day functioning & leverage it for Business Excellences.
• To create a delivery mechanism for comprehensive awareness & training in IPR to all stake holders of IP in the corresponding technological fields.
• To organize Patent Workshops at different locations to train the Engineers and guide them to formulate Patents by engaging IPR Consulting firms.
• To have an arrangement with NRDC to seek their advice and to share their experiences.
• To identify a panel of professional IP attorneys / IP Consultants and fix a fee structure for consulting them for professional services, so that the DPSUs / OFs can refer specific cases to them directly for professional expertise