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Introduction

The Research & Development Cell of Sri Balaji University, Pune conducted a webinar on “IPR Awareness” aimed at enhancing understanding and importance of intellectual property among faculty, research scholars, and staff. The session was designed to highlight how creators can secure their innovations through effective use of patents, copyrights, and trademarks.

Objectives

• To educate participants on Intellectual Property Rights including Patents, Trademarks, Copyrights, and Industrial Designs
• To explain the process of preserving and protecting IPR
• To promote awareness on legal rights of IP creators
• To introduce terminologies and procedures related to patent drafting
• To emphasize the importance of IPR in today’s innovation-driven economy

Opening Remarks

The session was inaugurated with an address by Prof. (Dr.) Manisha Paliwal, Deputy Head of R&D Cell, SBUP, who outlined the relevance of IPR in academic and entrepreneurial settings.

Session Highlights

• Patent: Defined as a legal right granted by a state to an inventor, giving exclusive rights to use, make, and sell their invention.
• Trademarks: Discussion on symbols, names, or devices used to distinguish goods/services, enabling companies to build brand reputation and market exclusivity.
• Copyrights: Explored the rights granted to creators of original literary and artistic works.
• Industrial Designs: Covered the protection of the visual design of objects, including patterns, configurations, and colors.

Participants learned how to apply these rights for academic, business, and personal innovations. The speaker also elaborated on IP drafting, enforcement of rights, and the importance of building a national innovation ecosystem.

Participants

Total attendees: 155 (SBUP faculty, research scholars, and administrative staff)

Feedback

The webinar received positive feedback for being informative, structured, and practical. Participants appreciated the interactive approach, especially during the discussion on real-world implications of IPR protection.

Conclusion

The webinar significantly improved awareness of IPR and inspired participants to protect their innovations legally. It laid the groundwork for future programs focusing on patent filing and IP commercialization.