For Raghavaendran J and Preethi K, a casual college presentation had an innovation hidden in it. The duo from an engineering college in the city didn’t realise that they had struck the surface of a patentable product till they approached CREST.
CREST (Centre for Research, Education and Scientific Training) is involved in research in the field of science, along with ascertaining whether an idea of a product or a service is patentable, according to existing laws.
The focus is to encourage research and invention among students, especially for those who have ideas but need guidance to develop them. Apart from that, CREST also works as a patent agent. With a significant boom in the field of research, where every researcher is possibly working on an idea or product, it becomes imperative for them to work on the protection of the innovation through IPR (Intellectual Property Rights).
The organisation also ropes in other experts, if needed, to explore the possibility of an invention. Bhuvana Jaiganesh, director, CREST says, “While research is growing and the number of students coming up with more innovative ideas, most of which can be tweaked to be patented, the awareness about existing laws on patenting, the loopholes and the need to make the product specification while applying for a patent, is lacking. This is where CREST steps in. Sometimes, to make the specification litigation free for future, we have to study 2000 existing patents on related ideas or products.” In the last seven years of its existence, CREST has filed for 15 patents.
An application for a patent has to be accompanied by a well written techno-legal document otherwise known as, “specification,” that is central to deriving the best commercial protection/benefits. The specification is done by an individual with domain knowledge (for the said technology) who understands the law governing patents.
Bhuvana reckons that the field has thrown the doors open for young minds that are brimming with ideas. “I am sometimes overwhelmed by the ideas and innovations people come up with. These ideas are not from students from premier institutions alone.”
She adds that while it may be impossible to ensure that there are no loopholes at all when one files specifications for patenting, the patent agent ensures that there is a little scope for litigation. Patent agents double up as attorneys in the cases filed in the Intellectual Property Appellate Board (IPAB).
