Strategic IP Protection for Innovation in Business Ventures

The awareness session titled “Strategic IP Protection for Innovation in Business Ventures” was successfully organized on 07 March 2026 from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM at the Auditorium, Central Block, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Pune Lavasa Campus. The event was conducted by the Institution’s Innovation Council – Centre for Entrepreneurship Development (IIC–CED Cell) in collaboration with the School of Business and Management (BBA) and the School of Law. The session was designed to introduce students to the strategic importance of intellectual property rights (IPR) in protecting innovations and promoting sustainable entrepreneurial ventures. The event witnessed enthusiastic participation from over 180 students, primarily from the first-year BBA and Law programmes, highlighting the growing interest among students in innovation, entrepreneurship, and legal frameworks related to business development.

The session was delivered by Sheheen Marakkar, who shared valuable insights on the role of intellectual property protection in the modern innovation ecosystem. The speaker began by explaining the significance of intellectual property rights for startups, entrepreneurs, and organizations that seek to safeguard their innovations and competitive advantage. By emphasizing the relationship between innovation, legal protection, and business sustainability, the session set a strong conceptual foundation for understanding the strategic role of IPR in contemporary business environments.

A major portion of the session focused on Indian Patents Act, 1970 and the concept of patents. The speaker explained that a patent is a legal right granted to an inventor for a novel invention that offers a technical solution to a problem. This right provides the inventor exclusive authority to use, manufacture, and commercialize the invention for a specified period. Participants were informed that patents granted in India are generally valid for 20 years from the date of filing, subject to the payment of prescribed maintenance fees. The session also clarified an important legal distinction between inventions and discoveries. While inventions involve human creativity and innovation that lead to new products or processes, discoveries merely reveal something that already exists in nature and therefore cannot be patented under the provisions of the Indian Patents Act.

The speaker further elaborated on the three fundamental criteria required for obtaining a patent: novelty, inventive step, and industrial applicability. These criteria ensure that only genuine and practical innovations receive legal protection. The process of filing a patent application was also explained in a simplified manner. Participants were informed that the inventor or an authorized applicant can submit a patent application along with the necessary documentation and prescribed forms. To provide practical exposure, the speaker introduced students to the Indian Patent Advanced Search System (INPASS), an online platform that enables users to search existing patents and access detailed information about patent filings. The demonstration of this portal helped students understand how prior art searches are conducted before filing a patent application.

In addition to patents, the session also addressed the importance of trademarks in protecting brand identity. The speaker explained that trademarks safeguard distinctive elements such as brand names, logos, symbols, and slogans that represent goods or services in the marketplace. The trademark registration process was described step-by-step, including the filing of an application, examination by authorities, publication of the application, possible opposition by third parties, and final registration.

This session served as a highly informative platform that enhanced students’ understanding of intellectual property protection and its strategic role in business ventures. By integrating legal knowledge with entrepreneurial perspectives, the event effectively encouraged students to recognize the value of protecting innovative ideas and intellectual assets in an increasingly competitive business environment.

The awareness session titled “Strategic IP Protection for Innovation in Business Ventures” was successfully organized on 07 March 2026 from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM at the Auditorium, Central Block, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Pune Lavasa Campus. The event was conducted by the Institution’s Innovation Council – Centre for Entrepreneurship Development (IIC–CED Cell) in collaboration with the School of Business and Management (BBA) and the School of Law. The session was designed to introduce students to the strategic importance of intellectual property rights (IPR) in protecting innovations and promoting sustainable entrepreneurial ventures. The event witnessed enthusiastic participation from over 180 students, primarily from the first-year BBA and Law programmes, highlighting the growing interest among students in innovation, entrepreneurship, and legal frameworks related to business development.

The session was delivered by Sheheen Marakkar, who shared valuable insights on the role of intellectual property protection in the modern innovation ecosystem. The speaker began by explaining the significance of intellectual property rights for startups, entrepreneurs, and organizations that seek to safeguard their innovations and competitive advantage. By emphasizing the relationship between innovation, legal protection, and business sustainability, the session set a strong conceptual foundation for understanding the strategic role of IPR in contemporary business environments.

A major portion of the session focused on Indian Patents Act, 1970 and the concept of patents. The speaker explained that a patent is a legal right granted to an inventor for a novel invention that offers a technical solution to a problem. This right provides the inventor exclusive authority to use, manufacture, and commercialize the invention for a specified period. Participants were informed that patents granted in India are generally valid for 20 years from the date of filing, subject to the payment of prescribed maintenance fees. The session also clarified an important legal distinction between inventions and discoveries. While inventions involve human creativity and innovation that lead to new products or processes, discoveries merely reveal something that already exists in nature and therefore cannot be patented under the provisions of the Indian Patents Act.

The speaker further elaborated on the three fundamental criteria required for obtaining a patent: novelty, inventive step, and industrial applicability. These criteria ensure that only genuine and practical innovations receive legal protection. The process of filing a patent application was also explained in a simplified manner. Participants were informed that the inventor or an authorized applicant can submit a patent application along with the necessary documentation and prescribed forms. To provide practical exposure, the speaker introduced students to the Indian Patent Advanced Search System (INPASS), an online platform that enables users to search existing patents and access detailed information about patent filings. The demonstration of this portal helped students understand how prior art searches are conducted before filing a patent application.

In addition to patents, the session also addressed the importance of trademarks in protecting brand identity. The speaker explained that trademarks safeguard distinctive elements such as brand names, logos, symbols, and slogans that represent goods or services in the marketplace. The trademark registration process was described step-by-step, including the filing of an application, examination by authorities, publication of the application, possible opposition by third parties, and final registration.

This session served as a highly informative platform that enhanced students’ understanding of intellectual property protection and its strategic role in business ventures. By integrating legal knowledge with entrepreneurial perspectives, the event effectively encouraged students to recognize the value of protecting innovative ideas and intellectual assets in an increasingly competitive business environment.