THRISSUR: A strong patent law may lead to increase in the costs of essential supplies, including the inputs for improved agricultural and industrial production, thereby raising the cost of living of the poor and the marganilised, said N R Madhava Menon, member of the Commission on Centre-State Relations.
Delivering the keynote address on `Intellectual Property Rights and Development: A National Perspective’ on the second day of the ongoing 22nd Kerala Science Congress here, he said that national interest demanded not a blind opposition to Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) or Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) but a fair assessment of our strengths and weaknesses, combined with a well-balanced approach.
This would enable Indian entrepreneurs to take advantage of the opportunities in the global market, while protecting the legitimate demands of the domestic market.