“Intellectual Property Rights and IP Management for Startups”

On 10.3.2025 a session on "Intellectual Property Rights and IP Management for Startups” was organized by the Entrepreneurship Development Cell and IIC in association with the Department of AI&DS. The session was handled by Dr .R. Prem Ananth IIC Convener AP/ECE Francis Xavier Engineering College. Fifty two students from first year AI&DS-B and one faculty of AI&DS department participated in the program. The program was coordinated by Mrs.P.Sooriabrabha, Assistant Professor, Department of AI&DS from 1.30PM – 4.00PM.

The program started with the introduction of the guest speaker by Mrs.P.Sooriabrabha. During this session the guest speaker discussed about important concepts relating to Intellectual Property (IP) rights and role of IP management in the startups. He said IPR protects innovative ideas, products, and brand identity providing a competitive edge in the market. Effective IP management ensures that a startup can secure patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets, preventing unauthorized use by competitors. Patents protect inventions, offering exclusive rights for a specified period, while trademarks safeguard brand names, logos, and slogans, enhancing brand recognition. Trade secrets, including proprietary algorithms, formulas, and business processes, provide a competitive advantage when kept confidential.

Startups should pay due diligence to avoid infringing on IP rights, which could lead to costly legal disputes. Filing IP protection early is crucial, as delayed actions may result in losing rights to competitors. Startups should also consider international IP protection if they plan to expand globally, ensuring their assets are safeguarded in different jurisdictions. Licensing agreements can generate additional revenue streams by allowing third parties to use the startup’s IP in exchange for royalties. Startups should monitor and enforce their IP rights to prevent infringement and unauthorized usage. Students interacted with the guest speaker and gathered lot of information about IPR.