Industrial designs will define start-ups and entrepreneurs
In a country of 1.4 billion and with one lakh plus startups and millions of entrepreneurs, the number of Industrial Designs that were filed stood at only 22,699 last year. Though there has been a good 80% rise in the numbers but overall the stats are abysmally low. As per the last IP annual report, Gujarat, followed by Maharashtra and Delhi are the top three states with regard to filing of Industrial Designs. Andhra Pradesh and Telangana State are in the 12th and 13th position
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Today Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) is the core of any business. It has also been constantly improving the lives of people. From AI to IOT and spacetech to nanotechnology all have IPRs in them with some or the other element of an inventive step, which is the intellectual property in a product or the process.
One such IPR, which is much in vogue these days, is ‘Industrial Designs’. This is applied to a wide variety of products of industry and handicraft items: from packages and containers to furnishing and household goods, from lighting equipment to jewelry, and from electronic devices to textiles. Industrial designs may also be relevant to graphic symbols, graphical user interfaces (GUI), and logos.
In a country of 1.4 billion and with one lakh plus startups and millions of entrepreneurs, the number of Industrial Designs that were filed stood at only 22,699 last year. Though there has been a good 80% rise in the numbers but overall the stats are abysmally low.
As per the last IP annual report, Gujarat, followed by Maharashtra and Delhi are the top three states with regard to filing of Industrial Designs. Andhra Pradesh and Telangana State are in the 12th and 13th position.
The leading Indian applicants were Chitkara Innovation Incubator Foundation (367), Sabyasachi Calcutta LLP (269), Michael Aram India Private Limited (267), Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences (203), Havells India Limited (173), Relaxo Footwears Limited (160), Sharda University (160), Masroor Kutbullah Khan (135), Aulyra Design Private Limited (91), Harpreet Narula (89) and FabIndia Overseas Private Limited (89).
While startups are focusing on problem solving and coming out with innovative technology solutions, there is a need to focus on industrial design or design patent, which is a low-hanging fruit for many. One such example of a classic design patent is the first-ever travel guitar made by US-based Ciari Guitars with the brand name Ascender. The guitar folds down mid-neck to fit into carry-on luggage or under-seat as a personal item. The name also is IP as it ascends in air with you in flight and can travel with you comfortably.
Today the thrust is more on filing of patents and trademarks, which are also pertinent for building an IP portfolio and governed with budget and business decisions. In this scenario, industrial designs should be on the radar for making a good and successful business model.
We as customers might forget an underlying technology that we use or a brand name but a design will stay imbibed in our memory. The best example is of Dyanora Shutter TV sets, the first Nokia mobile or a Volkswagen Beatle or the coke bottle.
Industrial design is the most economical and fastest form of IPRs to be granted and our startups should consider this to bring new products into the market faster to get the competitive edge.
With state-of-the-art T-Works in Telangana being set up and many other incubators where prototyping support are being given, entrepreneurs and innovators should make use of these centers to design, develop and license for business advantage.
(The writer is Head -Legal & IPR, Resolute Group of Companies & Founder Resolute4IP)
