January, 2010

The world has entered into a new decade from 1st January, 2010 and this decade may be termed as "green decade" with a total revolution in the field of clean development mechanism with the help of 'green technology'. The recently concluded Copenhagen Conference under the auspices of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) also lays emphasis for creation of a new green world by reducing the CO2 and GHG emission to a desired level for sustainable growth for the mankind. However the new protocol will apply only from 2013, at the end of the Kyoto protocol and in the meanwhile a consensus is required for the member nations, in order to repay their ecological debt.

ITAG is organizing its second IPR Conference at Bangalore on 29-30 January this year with due emphasis on IP leveraging for the green technology along with several issues connected with patentability of software and inventions in the field of electronic industry. Creativity and innovation are the uniqueness of the human mind which provides solution to all the emerging day to day problems in the process of economic growth. The search for alternative source of energy arises out of two factors, namely the depleting hydrocarbon resources and the GHG emission from the present pattern of consumption and resource waste endangering the human life due to climate change. The invention of renewable energy from solar, wind and bio gas are some of the efforts in this direction and the depicted graph is one of the examples of converting sewage waste into green technology. Such efforts need to be multiplied coupled with rationalization of excessive consumption of energy and other commodities. It may be noted that 12 percent of the global population living in US and EU alone consume almost 60 per cent of the world’s total consumption which is quite inequitable.

The IPR Conference at Bangalore shall dwell upon several important issues on innovation process management, implication of technology transfer and IP due diligence on mergers and acquisitions, issues relating to controversy arising out of the Federal Circuit judgement in the case of Bilski relating to patentibility of softwares and business methods and for IP leveraging and optimization through a proper patent portfolio management. The subjects will be dealt with and deliberated by eminent experts from India, USA, Singapore and various other part of the world would definitely be enlightening to the participants with net value addition to the knowlege society. We had received very good feedback on our 1st IPR Conference held last year at Hotel Taj Bengal, Kolkata and feel confident that the 2nd IPR Conference being held in colaborration with Bangalore Chamber of Industry and Commerce will also be a grand success.

Wishing a very happy and prosperous new year!!

-Dr. D. R. Agarwal