Given the increasing degree of attention that IP is getting these days in India, as the readers of this blog must be aware of, it is not surprising that developing knowledge-driven sectors like Information technology, pharmaceuticals and media related industries are vying for the professionals well-versed in the language of IP. The latter enjoys quite an obvious edge over their counterparts, who, unable to ascertain the nuances of IP, often find themselves at a disadvantage with respect to relevance, competition and career progression.
It is to increase the number of such IP-trained professionals from diverse backgrounds, by way of facilitating access to in-depth knowledge about the Indian IP scenario, that the School of Law, The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) in partnership with the Queensland University of Technology, (QUT) and Rainmaker had announced the commencement of the 2-year Master’s Degree Program in Intellectual Property Law (MIPL) some time back.
Admissions are going on right now for the batch of July, 2011 of MIPL. This is the fourth batch of the M.I.P.L. As per sources, the previous batches had met with considerable success, having attracted high interest from professionals from engineering, information technology, applied sciences, and legal backgrounds.
The programme is currently being undertaken by candidates from over 90 cities across India and includes executives from companies like Infosys, Ranbaxy, Wipro, TCS, and more. While professionals from both legal and non-legal backgrounds will be benefitted from such a program, lawyers have an added option of completing their LL.M. from Q.U.T., Australia in 6 months, following enrolment in this programme.
The last date of admission in the MIPL this year is July 31, 2011. In order to get further details, readers are requested to send their queries at [email protected], or call the organizers of MIPL at 011-32928063 or checkout the website at http://www.ignouonline.ac.in.
Thanks for the news.
Contrary to the rosy picture of an IPR carrer that many may infer from your post, the opposite also needs to be highlighted for a meaningful discussion. I have been working in the field of IPR for almost a decade with the following results:
1. Most MNCs do not have any IPR department or any IPR Manager in India. They manage (i.e. register, prosecute, enforce) their IPRs from their headquarters, and instruct their Indian lawyers directly from their headquarters. Therefore, no IPR based jobs in India for these companies.
2. Even many Indian companies never establish an IPR Department. Some have an IPR manager (mostly an executive level person reporting to Head Legal or Company Secretary).
Many companies are deterred by the negative campaign against the monopolistic concept of IPR run by certain NGOs. (I wonder why these NGOs are so aggressively running this campaign against IPR in India, when it is Chinese & Americans who are running away with lion’s share in monopoly creation on a worldwide level). I remember speaking to the HR Director of an Indian company why they have no IPR enforcement manager, inspite of huge IPR infringement issues. He said that less than 1% of his company’s annual turnover is affected by counterfeiting (a wild guess), and recruiting a person for ‘a contentious and disputed field’ should be avoided. Tell me how many Automotive/ IT/ apparel companies have an IPR enforcement manager ? Very few indeed.
IPR as a carrer has not really taken off in India. I know of two Ph.D. holders in IPR who are currently looking for a job. All they ever got was an offer from a law firm offering subsitence level wages. On the contrary, another friend of mine who was clear about working in Patents field had to shift to HongKong for a decent job. Of course, such international assignments go to those who can compete internationally.
At a time when IPR as a concept itself has been debated/ challenged, do we really need hundreds of Master’s Degree holders in IPR ? Who will give them jobs/ assignments?
Thanks for the news.
Contrary to the rosy picture of an IPR carrer that many may infer from your post, the opposite also needs to be highlighted for a meaningful discussion. I have been working in the field of IPR for almost a decade with the following results:
1. Most MNCs do not have any IPR department or any IPR Manager in India. They manage (i.e. register, prosecute, enforce) their IPRs from their headquarters, and instruct their Indian lawyers directly from their headquarters. Therefore, no IPR based jobs in India for these companies.
2. Even many Indian companies never establish an IPR Department. Some have an IPR manager (mostly an executive level person reporting to Head Legal or Company Secretary).
Many companies are deterred by the negative campaign against the monopolistic concept of IPR run by certain NGOs. (I wonder why these NGOs are so aggressively running this campaign against IPR in India, when it is Chinese & Americans who are running away with lion’s share in monopoly creation on a worldwide level). I remember speaking to the HR Director of an Indian company why they have no IPR enforcement manager, inspite of huge IPR infringement issues. He said that less than 1% of his company’s annual turnover is affected by counterfeiting (a wild guess), and recruiting a person for ‘a contentious and disputed field’ should be avoided. Tell me how many Automotive/ IT/ apparel companies have an IPR enforcement manager ? Very few indeed.
IPR as a carrer has not really taken off in India. I know of two Ph.D. holders in IPR who are currently looking for a job. All they ever got was an offer from a law firm offering subsitence level wages. On the contrary, another friend of mine who was clear about working in Patents field had to shift to HongKong for a decent job. Of course, such international assignments go to those who can compete internationally.
At a time when IPR as a concept itself has been debated/ challenged, do we really need hundreds of Master’s Degree holders in IPR ? Who will give them jobs/ assignments?
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I have spoken to IGNOU people it is a basically not LLM degree but a masters course in IPR
I have taken this course and so far, this course is not impressive as it looks on the brochure. The course is not interactive at all, the University does not respond to our queries on time and we get loads of information on IPR (which we can even get accessing the internet), but no knowledge and helps only gain academic bookish knowledge in this vast IPR field.. The tests are not challenging. and yes, the point someone made earlier in this post… this course is not job oriented. In my opinion, this online course is too expensive for what it delivers.
I cannot agree more with Anonymous (9:42 AM).
Another spoke in the wheel is the pace at which IP disputes drags on in our courts. Even if companies become aware of IP, there is no support to them for enforcing of their IP rights. No company wants to get into lengthy litigations. Our courts take years to deliver a verdict because of IP infringers get a free hand. This needs to improve urgently. We need special IP courts for the IP regime in India to flourish. But given the fact that an undertrial in India languishes in jail for years, sometimes without a single hearing, it will be too much to demand IP courts. Even human rights have no hope from courts, forget IP.
Till then, it is very unfair to present IP career as rosy. Aspirants of IP career should be made aware of the ground realities.
They will soon realize that there are very few IP firms (blood suckers) who can give them quality work and good money. Compare the salary of a lawyer in a top full service law firm with that of an IP lawyer in top IP firms like A&A, Remfry, L&S, Krishna Saurashtri etc. A fresher in top full service law firm is offered 11+ Lacs with bonus whereas this will not be the average salary of an IP lawyer with 4-5 yrs of exp in the top blood sucker IP firms.
In developed countries, IP Lawyers are the best paid lot and in good demand, whereas in India IP lawyers are poor and beggars.
Until there are favourable circumstances for IP market to grow, new players will not come in the market and therefore the blood suckers will continue to suck. Although, there is a glimmer of hope that IP market in India has huge potential to grow, it is only a hope at the end of the day.
To aspirants of an IP career: Only if hard core patience is your virtue, do come here else you will repent.
I also request Spicyip to conduct an IP salary survey, best IP firms to work with etc like Legally India does for lawyers.