Unlock the Secrets of Pomato IP
Pomato IP Academy offers expert-led courses on the complex world of intellectual property in biotechnology and pharmaceuticals.
From basics to advanced understanding of patents in biotechnology and drug discovery
Module 1: Introduction to IPR
In this module, you will learn about intellectual property rights and types of IPR.
Chapter 1, week 1: Evolution and Types of IPR
The arena of Intellectual Property as we know it today has evolved through various stages to reach its modern version. This article traces its humble origins from the 6th century and the significant developments in the ensuing years that led to its latest avatar in the 21st century.
Types of IPR:
- Copyrights
- Design
- Trademarks
Evolution of IPR
The first known instance of something resembling IP was the exclusive right granted to chefs in the Greek colony of Sybaris over their culinary inventions in 500 BCE. Apart from this and a few more inconspicuous incidents, there are no references to any legal authority or institutions that protected a creator’s rights in the Greek or Roman Empires.
It is only in the Florentine Republic that a prominent case of IP surfaces next. Filippo Brunelleschi, a famous architect, was the first to receive a statute issued by the Republic of Florence that recognized the rights of authors and creators to their intellectual labor. While this was the first and last patent issued by the State due to several reasons, it was a landmark event.
Medieval England seems to have drawn inspiration from the sparse events of the past to draft a full-fledged intellectual property law christened the Statute of Monopolies in 1623. It disbarred erstwhile royal monopolies except for the granting of “letter patents” to manufacturers of new inventions.
Paris Convention and Berne Convention
When foreign exhibitors refused to attend the international exhibition in Vienna to showcase their inventions, for the fear of their ideas being stolen, the world felt the need to introduce an international system for protection. Thus, was born the Paris Convention (1883)- the first international step taken to protect creators and their inventions internationally.
Then came the Berne Convention in 1886 which pledged the protection of the works of artists and authors across fields like music, poetry, painting, writing etc. With 179 states as contracting parties, it enforces countries to recognize copyrights held by citizens in any of the participating States. It has definitely proved a boon for artists and aids them in bringing their work to the international stage.
Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) is by far the most comprehensive global agreement on the protection of Intellectual Property. It lays the foundation for facilitating innovation and technology transfers on a global platform.
The World Intellectual Property Organization
Established in 1967, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is an agency of the United Nations that serves as a global forum for Intellectual Property. A culmination of the Paris and Berne Conventions, the primary purpose of this body is to aid in the development of an effective international IP system that fosters innovation.
IP Laws in the USA
Post their independence from Britain, the USA followed the laws set by the mother country till the ratification of the Constitution which endows the government with the power to “Promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts but securing for limited Times to authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their Respective Writings and Discoveries” (Article 1, Section 8).
Thereafter in 1982, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit was established with nationwide jurisdiction over trademark and patent cases. The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is the federal agency responsible for granting US patents and registering trademarks.
Related Services:
- Patentability Search
- Invalidation Search
- FTO (Freedom to Operate)
- Patent Portfolio Management
- Patent Monitoring
- Patent Infringement Search
- Patent Drafting & Illustrations
Chapter 2, week 2: Other Forms of Intellectual Property
- Patents
- Trade secrets
- Geographical Indications
- Plant Variety protection
Module 2: Patent Overview
This module describes the patent in detail.
Chapter 3, week 3: The basics of patents
Chapter 4, week 4: Novelty and inventive steps
Module 3: Patentable inventions
Here, you will learn how to make your inventions patentable.
Chapter 5, week 5: Preparation of drugs for the treatment of diseases
Chapter 6, week 6: Biotech & life sciences- DNA sequences, proteins, genetic engineering techniques, etc.
Module 4: Complete procedure to patent your idea
This section teaches the complete procedure and steps for patenting your idea/research.