Guest Lecture on Protecting Creativity/ IPR

Name of the Department: Fashion & Textiles

Name of the Activity: Guest Lecture

Date: 7th June 2021

Venue: Zoom Meeting,

Link:https://us04web.zoom.us/j/79013311367?pwd=Nkp2MGpZaXRjd0IzZVZGa05GSFBpdz09

Meeting ID: 790 1331 1367
Passcode: Q5u8zA

Topic on which activity was organized: Protecting Creativity/IPR 

No. of Participants: 37students (B.Sc. Sem. IV & VI, M.A./M.Com./ M.Sc. Sem. –II & IV and COSD Fashion Designing)

Objective of the activity: The objective of the activity was to encourage generation of IPRs, relating to fashion design specifically. It was planned to discuss and encourage creation of design related IP rights by identifying, nurturing and promoting the aspects of innovation protectable under the design law and educate designers to utilize and benefit from their designs. 

Description: The Department of Fashion and Textiles conducted an exclusive guest lecture for upcoming Designers, Creators and Entrepreneurs on “Protecting Creativity”. Special guest for the session was Dr. Radhika Sharma, Associate Professor and Head, Department  of Biotechnology, IIS (deemed to be University)Jaipur.

Dr. Radhika explained what is IPR, why is it important to understand IPR ie., Intellectual Property Rights. Anything that our brain has created, has used intellectual strength to create it, needs to be protected. Protection of Ideas, Inventions, Designs and Images can be done through Patents, Copyrights, Trademarks. Copyright provides various rights to owner and can sue other party if found copying it. She very well explained need to protect Intellectual Property to ensure fair competition, protect consumers and prevent someone from stealing our work. She gave various examples that we may encounter in our daily life like buying copied products from fake companies, and discussed cases from movies and web series for better understanding.

Brand name, their Logo, Trade mark plays an important role in identification and gives competitive edge. It distinguishes goods from competitors. One can easily associate brand value by just looking at its logo. The classic Chanel suit designed by Coco Chanel is still sold at high price; no one can copy it due to its copyright.

Burberry sued rapper used his stage name ‘Burberry Jesus” and various branding elements that were trademarks of 164 year old British fashion company. It was possible only because Company had protected their property.

Another case speaker discussed was about a British designer whose one of the bestselling Tee was copied by other seller who sold them at half price. British designer was helpless and couldn't take any action as she has no rights against her phrases, graphics used in her design.

Every budding Designer, Creator and Entrepreneur from any field should have knowledge and awareness about IPR. India’s rich textile and handicrafts, its unique motifs, designs, embroideries need to be protected. Lots of Indian designers and fashion houses register their designs to protect them from copying and theft.

At the end Fashion students were made to aware about college having its own IPR office and providing diploma course in IPR that can help them to know more about IPR and can be hyper creative without worrying of theft or copying of their designs.

Outcome of the activity: The outcome of the lecture was to create awareness and have a right balance between the interests of innovators and the wider public interest. The activity was able to foster an environment in which creativity and innovation can flourish. Through IP income can be  generated for startups business through licensing, sale or commercialization of protected products or services. In case of sale, merger or acquisition, having registered and protected IP assets can raise the value of business.

 

Prof. Radha Kashyap                                                Ms. Poorvi Agarwal              Head, Department of Fashion & Textiles              Teacher Co-coordinator