This has reference to the recent articles in DNA, Indian Express and Sakal regarding very low awareness on Intellectual Property Rights among SMEs.

Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) and the Department of Information Technology (DIT), Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, Govt. of India has been actively working towards generation of awareness on Intellectual Property Rights, especially for Small and Medium Enterprises. Based on a study of sample Published Patent Applications related to Information and Communication Technologies carried out by it, C-DAC and the DIT had also conducted an IPR awareness programme for SMEs in association with the MCCIA on October 29, 2007. On this occasion the DIT had also announced a scheme for providing financial assistance to SMEs and Technology Start-Up units for international patents filing. The scheme seeks to encourage indigenous innovation and to recognize the value and capabilities of global IP and capture growth opportunities in the area of information technology and electronics. As per the scheme, DIT will reimburse 50% of cost of patent filing for any International Patent filing by SMEs whose patentable inventions are in ICT/Electronics domains irrespective of final application areas.

The details of the reimbursement scheme are available on the DIT website:
http://www.mit.gov.in/download/sip_eit.pdf

It would be pertinent to note that figures of Published Patent Applications (related to ICT) in Indian Patent Office Journal, during last 3 years show that less than 10% published applications have been filed in the areas of Information and Communications Technologies by Indian Companies / Organizations. This data presents a dismal picture of the IPR scenario in the country and corroborates the findings of the study by the MCCIA. The situation also makes it imperative to highlight the necessity of intensifying the IPR culture in Indian organizations / researchers especially in SMEs.

For more information, please contact:
Shri R Y Deshpande
Head-Legal and IPR,
C-DAC, Pune
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