Custodians of rights

Intellectual Property Rights is an exciting new field for those with strong analytical abilities, reasoning and logical skills, writes Usha Albuquerque

Several years ago a rice producer in the US developed a new strain of rice which had the exact flavour, shape and taste of Basmati rice from India. He began marketing it as Basmati rice, the only difference being, it was grown in the US and not in Dehradun, India, where the original Basmati comes from. When India realised this, we took up the matter in the international courts and it was finally accepted that this strain of rice is the intellectual property of a geographical region of the country, and so no other rice grown anywhere else, even if it carries all the particular characteristics of Basmati rice, can be given this name. This is also the case with Champagne, the bubbly wine from the champagne region of France. So no other Champagne like wine can be called Champagne unless it comes from this particular area of France. It has been the same for Benarsi saris, and Darjeeling tea, for films, music, books, software and all kinds of creative and inventive works and products.

Intellectual property rights is a legal concept that confers rights of ownership to owners and creators of any specific work, or product or produce of a specific area. Such rights are internationally recognised and can be granted for areas related to literature, music, inventions, designs, ideas etc, which are used in the public domain. Such rights make the creator/inventor owner of the product/work and prevents others from exploiting the same commercially.

Every country, including India, has specific laws to protect the various forms of intellectual property, which on an international level is governed by the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO).

Getting In

Intellectual Property Rights is a subject that can be taken up for study by any professional, not only lawyers. A number of institutes offer PG diploma, diploma and certificate courses; full time, part time as well as in distance learning on intellectual property, patent law, IPR management and others. Applicants need to have a bachelor’s degree or equivalent in any discipline from a recognised university. Most law courses have a modules or offer specialisation in IPR.

The courses are suitable for working professionals as well as students aspiring to a career in IP. Most courses in IPR have been designed keeping in mind not only the law student but also other professionals, as well as those from corporate and business organisations to help them identify and utilise the intellectual wealth produced by their organisations.

Job prospects

There are many career avenues for those who specialise in IP, from law firms and software companies to FMCGs and durable goods industries to organisations working in agriculture and pharmaceuticals, and research institutes for science and technology. Over the recent years, lawyers and law firms have begun to specialise in handling cases on IPR for a wide range of clients offering services such as registration, enforcement, litigation and licensing of trademarks, designs, patents, copyrights, etc, while advising and protecting their clients’ intellectual property before the Intellectual Property Tribunals, Courts, and Customs Organisations. Some law firms have a special department handling intellectual property issues.

Engineers and scientists can also specialise in IP so as to work on new creations and inventions while also handling the patent aspect of the new invention. Lawyers with a technical bent of mind are best suited for this role, and can also qualify as a patent agent for organisations or individuals working on any new invention or research project. For scientists working on research projects there is a great deal of intellectual property at stake. They could be working on pioneering R & D or on innovative aspects of research which require proper documentation and patent protection.

A study of IP is also useful for marketing and brand management professionals who work with FMCG and durable goods industries and need to understand the implications of using a mark, or logo associated with a product and the likely fallout whether positive or not.

Knowledge of IP is useful for Chartered Accountants, too, when valuing their client’s intellectual property, rating patents, handling the financial aspects of intellectual property, accounting intellectual property as a capital asset, its valuation and giving considered opinions on the financial aspects of IP. The same hold good for Company Secretaries and other such professionals.

In today’s fast paced global world where new ideas, creations and inventions are developing and evolving all the time there is an urgent need to protect intellectual property. Microsoft, a company built entirely on intellectual property was one of the early pioneers that recognised the need of protecting its software programmes through copyright.

Scope

Protection of intellectual property has become so important that practically every new product — whether a music video, movie, software programme, logo, design or brand name, ensures that the original cannot be copied, duplicated or adapted. The music and entertainment industry which, due to rapidly improving satellite transmission and digital technology, suffers a great deal from piracy, relies greatly on copyright laws, whereas patents laws are important for engineering and industrial designs and for the knowledge- based industry which is research driven. In this global information age when creativity can so easily be replicated, enforcement of IP laws becomes of utmost concern. Companies today carry out intellectual property audits to identify their intellectual wealth and even have special departments to manage them. Even countries are signatories to trade agreements that protect the intellectual property of the original creator.

Intellectual Property Rights is an exciting new field for those with strong analytical abilities, reasoning and logical skills, and a persevering bent of mind. It is an open arena for those willing to get in on the ground floor of a career that is reckoned to go places.

Career Hotline
Learning the ropes
Pervin Malhotra

Q. I am working as a manager in a fast-growing company run by my uncle in Gurgaon. I have risen from the ranks but constantly face challenges in getting work done from other people and am held accountable. Is there any programme I can do to help me understand the real world needs of an executive and in developing the competencies required of a manager? I did not score the mandatory 50 per cent marks in graduation and would prefer something more practical and less formal and theoretical, and preferably something that does not require clearing an entrance test or regular daily classes.

— Harminder Jogi

A. The present day manager needs to go on learning and developing and acquiring competencies. Today the question is not whether you have a management qualification or not, but whether you can demonstrate the ability to do certain things expected of you to the expected performance level.

There are plenty of executive management programmes (regular and online) offered by several B-schools all over the country, but you could also check out Creatnet Institute for Applied Management (CIAM)'s one year Executive Masters in Applied Management which is designed for working professionals like you.

Experiential learning model concepts are introduced in class, applied to the participant's own context and reflected upon. These experiences and reflections are then shared and discussed in class by the peer group and faculty. The programme is designed to give you an integrated understanding of the business and the competencies essential to be a successful manager. The course also focuses on insights necessary to build and manage high performing teams.

The faculty comprises academicians, experienced managers and successful entrepreneurs. A group like this should give the participants an insightful education on developing into result-oriented managers.

You could also check their website www.ciam.in for further details.

Industrial mathematics
Mother of all technology

Q. I am a student of BSc, Statistics. Could you please tell me something about industrial mathematics? In what kind of organisations do industrial mathematicians work?

— Munish Raja

A. Industrial mathematics has become a buzzword in the US, Europe and Japan in the past decade. In fact, this branch of applied mathematics is not only the queen of all sciences but is also the mother of all technology.

Scientific computing, semiconductor devices, image processing, electro-optics, very large integrated systems (VLIS), and sensor technology are some of the emerging areas of high technology. As classical geometry is 'inadequate' to understand the intricacies of nature, a new geometry called 'Fractal Geometry' has been invented by a mathematician. It has proved useful in studying and picturing mountains, skies, rainfall, coastal lines, artificial scenery, and designs and patterns through computers. This technique has revolutionised the film industry, image processing and data compression techniques, leading to the compact disc.

In recent years, as new technologies have been developed, the demand for professionals capable of modeling and simulating these emerging technologies has dramatically increased. Modeling, analysis and computations performed by industrial mathematicians working with other professionals can provide technical advantages and cost savings, important for a company's competitive edge.

Industry mathematicians usually work in multidisciplinary teams and cover a wide range of industrial areas from aircraft and automobile design to software development, computer security and weather modeling and prediction.

They are mainly hired by the computer software industry, electronics and computer manufacturers, aerospace and transportation equipment manufacturers, Chemical/pharmaceutical manufacturers, communication service providers, engineering research organisations, consulting firms and some government agencies.

For a wealth of info on this subject, check website of the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM), especially their pages on Thinking of a Career in Applied Mathematics? www.siam.org/careers/thinking.php.

Continuing education

Q. I had passed Class XII in 2004 with 79 per cent marks. But I couldn't continue my studies due to a terrible accident. Now I am working in a publication house. I want to do my graduation (BA, Economics) from IGNOU. Please tell me, can I do MJMC as a regular student after BA from IGNOU?

— Tahira Oberoi

A. It's never too late to resume or continue your studies. Doing your BA (Eco) from IGNOU is a good idea. And IGNOU being a fully recognised university, you should have no problem whatsoever in pursuing your Master's in Journalism & Mass Communication or in any other subject for that matter. As is evident from the marks you have scored in Class XII, you are a bright and capable student, so please go ahead and continue your education without any hesitation.

Lucrative career in research

Q. I am in my final year of MSc Biotech. Now I'm very confused whether I should go for further study (PhD) or do an MBA etc instead, if the prospects in research are not that good.

— Rakhi Juneja

A. There are vast opportunities in biotech particularly for those who have specialised in areas like clinical research and manufacturing, field testing of GM crops, regulatory affairs such as IPR and biosafety, consultancy for business planning and global collaborations.

The need for trained manpower in biotech has increased as the industry has grown 35 per cent YoY in the last four years. While there is a sufficient number of MScs in Biotech, more quality PhDs are required.

India needs biotech schools with state-of-the art facilities to produce biotech professionals for the industry.

India can become a global R&D hub if incentives are provided for research on a long term basis. The country's future growth would mainly depend on innovation and ability to bring new technology from overseas.

Our scientific pool of qualified researchers and the largest number of USFDA approved plants outside the US would also help us grab a large chunk of the $ 100 billion contract manufacturing and research pie which is expected to grow manifold in the coming decade. So if a career in research interests you, you have little to worry.

Wide choice in language courses

Q. I am interested in learning foreign languages like Chinese, Japanese, German, Italian. I am in the merchant navy, so please tell me from where can I learn these languages through distance learning?

— Satpal Singh

A. You have several options. Use them singly or in combination. And the great thing is that you can pursue these options at your convenience - wherever you are - including at sea.

The English and Foreign Language University (EFL), School of Distance Education, Hyderabad, offers courses in several languages through distance learning.

Moreover, a number of reputed American universities including MIT, Carnegie Mellon, and Utah State University, offer free foreign language courses online.

Free lessons can also be found through the BBC and the many foreign language learning networks that have cropped up on the web.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) - offers over 60 courses in foreign languages and literature. Users can find courses in Spanish, Chinese, Spanish, German, and Japanese.

The open university's modern language unit features courses for Spanish, German, English, and French. Courses are available for beginner, intermediate, and advanced level language learners.

Carnegie Mellon University - The open learning initiative of the university features two courses in introductory French. These video-based courses include activities and self-guided materials.

BBC offers video and audio courses for 36 different languages. Course options include quick language fixes, all-in-one courses, tips, and conversation tools.

eLanguageSchool - One of the largest multiple language learning institutions on the web, the school offers courses for learning 10 different languages. Courses cover the basics, grammar, phrases, practice, and exercises.

Open Culture features podcasts for learning 37 different languages. The podcasts can be listened to on your computer or downloaded on to a MP3 player. Open Culture also features an instructional podcast on how to teach yourself a foreign language.

Word2Word.com provides links to hundreds of different free learning courses for 119 different languages. Links are sorted by language so that you can easily find what you're looking for.

Livemocha.com is another great place to find free foreign language lessons. This site offers free online courses, over 160 hours of lessons, and tips from native speakers.

The writer is a noted career expert and director, Career Guidance India (CARING). Please send in your queries with your full name, complete address and academic qualifications to: The Editor, Jobs and Careers, The Tribune, Sector 29, Chandigarh-160030, or at careers @tribunemail.com

Opportunities in poultry farming
Birds of profit
Rajinder Singh

Poultry farming is now a well-developed and organised industry instead of just backyard farming. The business is divided into two sectors — layer (for eggs) and broiler (for meat). As many as 3 million farmers and 15 million agrarian farmers are employed in the poultry industry and grow poultry ingredients for feed and contribute about Rs 26,000 crore to the national income. India is the fifth largest producer of eggs and the ninth largest producer of poultry meat. India was positioned 17th in the world poultry production. The Indian poultry production is considered to be the cheapest in the world. A Meat and Poultry Processing Board was set up by the Ministry of Food Processing in 2009 to work for the welfare of poultry farmers.

The planning commission has also recommended enhancement in the commercial production of poultry in Haryana. About a decade ago Ambala (Panchkula) and Gurgaon districts were the two leading districts in the state in poultry production. Recent observations have, however, shown that there has been a tremendous rise in the number of large commercial layer and broiler farms and established hatcheries in Jind, Bhiwani, Karnal, Rohtak, Fatehabad, Yamunanagar, Sonepat, Hisar and Sirsa districts.

Due to proximity to Delhi-NCR region, Haryana can be gain massive profits by taking poultry farming on commercial lines. This can be a good source of income and provide self-employment to youth in the state.

The following are some of the support services available for those interested in taking up poultry farming to earn a livelihood:

Training and education

Each district of the state has KVKs (Krishi Vigyan Kendra) with qualified animal science/veterinary experts. They organise, on an average, two poultry trainings in a year. The interested persons can undergo training from these KVKs. The training is free of cost and the eligibility criteria are also flexible.

The candidates are trained with special emphasis on breed selection of poultry for broiler and layer; the quality of feed and management, management of chicks, especially brooder temperature, light, space for bird feed and water management; and housing management of poultry about cage and litter system.

Prevention & control of diseases

Most KVKs like those in Ambala, Karnal, Rohtak, Bhiwani, Jind, Mahendergarh districts and veterinary college (CCSHAU, Hisar) have disease investigation laboratories to keep a check on disease outbreak.

Information regarding vaccination schedule for the poultry is also provided by laboratory experts.

De-beaking for the layers is very important for productivity and avoidance of cannibalism and aggression and for controlling endo-ecto parasites

Credit and loan

After taking training banks are there to finance venture capital for poultry. NABARD, through the district lead bank officer (LDM), can help the interested persons in getting finance on nominal interest rates.

Marketing and net profit

While there is a stable market for eggs, but for broiler the market is highly fluctuating as its control is in the hands of private players. This requires government intervention and introduction of a minimum-support price mechanism.

On an average there is gain of Rs 5-10 per broiler bird in a time frame of 40-50 days.

With the above mentioned training unemployed youth, especially those in rural areas, can educate themselves and take up poultry production on commercial lines and move towards self-employment and self-reliance.

— The writer is Senior Extension Specialist, KVK, Rohtak

Get that EXPERIENCE
Preetinder Kaur

It may seem like a Catch-22 situation, but the adage “You can’t get a job without experience, and you can’t get experience without a job” is neatly solved by work experience.

Work experience is an opportunity to learn what actual work environment is like. If you are not sure of the sort of job you want to do, or the course you want to study, then work experience can help you explore what is out there for you. Maybe you have thought, “I want to work in the media” – well, a placement might focus you on a particular area or role. It is a chance to see real work in a real working environment. If you are already studying, it is an opportunity to put theory into practice and can help you gain actual skills, such as using a piece of equipment or software.

Learn to work at school; work experience is an obligatory part of the national curriculum. At college, many courses include placements. Course tutors will often expect prospective students to gain some work experience before starting their courses and might include this in their criteria for short listing applicants for interview.

People looking to change career can also use work experience to test alternatives.

How to get work experience?

Use the internet to search for companies and check out their websites to see if they advertise placements. If you cannot find any information on their site, then make calls and inquire about the requirements and how you can go about applying. If you are at school or college then your career service or tutor may have suggestions. Another good route is to use specialist knowledge, especially if you are planning to make a career change.

Application that stands out

Demand for work experience is high. Remember that perseverance is one of the top skills required in any job. So be determined. Plan ahead and approach companies three-to-four months before you would like to be on the placement.

It is crucial that you give your application the time it deserves. Some companies will require an application form to be completed. If you are making a speculative approach, you will need a CV with a covering letter. Think about all the reasons why you want a placement.

Tell them: what your ambitions are; why you want to work in their industry and for their company; what you hope to gain from the placement; what you can offer them etc.

Detail your skills, interests and experience. Be enthusiastic. Demonstrate your knowledge of their programme, paper or magazine. Make it clear that you have done lots of research.

Customise your CV, letter or form — don’t just copy and paste the same one for every placement. The more applications you make, the more likely it is that you will successfully gain a place.

Making the most of placement

Once you are offered work experience, make the most of it. Be clear about all the details — the location, dates and timing, who is responsible for you, what to wear, whether or not you will be paid, and whether expenses are available. You may need to sign a contract (usually covering confidentiality, intellectual property and copyright). Employers should have suitable insurance, but do ask. Take responsibility for your own health and safety and follow instructions given by the person supervising you.

Set goals

Ask if you can have a mentor — someone who will help you, give you feedback and share his or her knowledge. Your supervisor will probably fill this role. Go through your goals with your supervisor or mentor.

Maintain a log or a diary

Use this to record what you do, what skills you use and what you learn. If you are at college, maintaining a log will usually be a course requirement, but it is useful to do this anyway and it will help you build your CV.

Contribute your ideas

What you get out of your experience depends on what you put in. Remember, they are giving you an opportunity, their time and resources so respect it. Do not act bored. Every job has its mundane tasks. If you do not understand something, ask. If you are not enjoying your placement or you are experiencing any sort of problem, then speak with your supervisor or mentor.

Ask lots of questions and seek advice. Ask people how they got into the industry and what work experience they did. If you are at school or college, then ask advice on making the most of your placement. They have probably placed other students with the same company before.

After placement

It is best to ask for feedback throughout your placement. At the end, ask your supervisor or mentor to read your diary and add comments. What have you learnt? What skills have you used? What weaknesses you have identified? This is a learning experience, so realising what you need to go and learn about is crucial.

Stay in touch once you have left. That is the best way to find out about future opportunities, as well as for building your crucial contacts’ book. It could always lead to further work experience, or even a job.

The writer is Project Assistant, IIT, Ropar

A power-packed career

Rakesh Kumar on career opportunities in power sector

Electricity is the most versatile form of energy and an indispensable infrastructure component for sustaining economic development of our country. The 11th plan (2007-2012) envisages capacity edition of 78,577 MW of which 50 per cent would be contributed by the Central sector. The remaining 50 per cent addition would be done either by the states or through private sector projects. By now about 26,000 MW additional capacity has been commissioned and the remaining about 52,000 MW are in the various stages of implementation. Thus there will be a substantial growth in the power sector for some more time.

A power project requires engineers and managers from various disciplines during the different stages of its life cycle. Broadly the implementation of a power project under goes through the following life cycle stages:

• Preparation of Techno Economic feasibility report and submission to statutory body for approval.
• Design and engineering phase.
• Procurement of materials.
• Construction, erection, testing and commissioning of the power plant.

Operation & maintenance of a power plant

Techno Economic Feasibility Report (TEFR): TEFRs are prepared by experienced consultants like Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Bechtel, Central Electricity Authority (CEA) and others. A typical TEFR includes requirement of land, fuel, size of scheme, total implementation cost, environment issues and financial aspect. For preparation of TEFR engineers from mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, civil, and chemical disciplines are required.

Design and engineering of the plant: This is the most critical activity in the implementation of a power project. The major activities are designing of the system. Sizing and preparation of specification of equipments, engineering, drawings for mechanical, civil, electrical, instrumentation and specification for equipments and systems for procurement.

Procurement of material: This involves selecting vendors, floating enquiry, placing orders, inspection and testing of equipment at works and receiving at sites.

Construction, erection, testing and commissioning of the plant: Initial phase of the activity involves considerable amount of work, including casting of foundation for equipment installation, mechanical erection, testing and commissioning of sub systems and complete plant. Main equipment in a typical thermal power plant includes coal handling system, boiler, turbine, generator, cooling tower, water treatment plant, ash handling system, electrical substation and control room equipment. Instrumentation and control are part parcel of all equipment and systems.

Operation and maintenance of the plant: It involves plant operation, maintenance as per schedule, undertaking technical services, addressing safety and environmental issues.

Major players

Companies in central and state sectors like NTPC, State Electricity Boards. DVC Power Houses, Tata Power, Calcutta Electricity Supply Company, Reliance Power, Jindal Power and Steel, Torrent Power, GVK Power, JP Power, BHEL, Larsen & Toubro, Siemens, ABB and many more.

Recruitment process

Fresh recruitment in major companies is made through a written test followed by group discussion and interview. Selection criteria are stringent and as such it is difficult for average candidates to clear this hurdle. Other companies look for fresh graduate engineers with field experience of two to three years.

What fresh graduate engineers should do?

Fresh engineering graduates can join medium-size construction, contactor and maintenance firms and get some experience.

During this phase they should not hesitate to work long hours, try to correlate their theoretical knowledge with field situation and go an extra mile to understand the working of the system as whole. For example, a mechanical engineer associated with erection, testing and commissioning of boiler plant should try to understand instrumentation and control aspects of the system, electrical interconnection etc.

Initially it may be difficult to foresee the importance of this but this is essential to rise in this career.

Remuneration wise, too, it may be just a hand to mouth situation but never mind, get experience for a year or two and then switch over to a major player’s domain.

Be in the learning mode and sky will be the limit for you.

The writer is Dean, Training and Placement, IEC Group of Institutions, Greater Noida.

Happiness @ work: Gems of ancient wisdom
Mind your manners

Bad manners can unnecessarily invite trouble. While sage Maitreya advised Duryodhana to befriend the Pandavas, he slapped his thigh. This made the sage curse the prince that Bhima would smash his thigh in battle.

In an inebriated condition, King Dhanananda of Magadha insulted Chanakya in his court. This eventually led to the fall of the Nanda Empire and the rise of the Mauryan Empire under Chandragupta Maurya.

Gandhiji was thrown off a train at Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, in 1893. Since that incident, the half-naked fakir took it to heart to remove the British yoke off India.

In jest, Indra placed Durvasa’s garland on his elephant that threw it down and trampled it. Enraged, Durvasa cursed the gods to lose their vitality and affluence which was regained after the churning of the ocean.

After killing a giant buffalo Dundhubi, vaanara king Vaali flung it so hard that it landed on Rishyamukha hill. A few drops of blood contaminated sage Matanga’s sacrifice and he warned Vaali not to step on the hill lest he should die.

The Minister for the Police in UP was to arrive by train at the Agra station. Policemen and Congressmen were waiting for him. A policeman told a short simpleton who got down from a bogie to ‘keep out of the way’. The man — short of height, but big in stature — was Lal Bahadur Shastri, the then Minister for the Police.

In contrast, Yudhisthira sought the blessings of Bhishma and Drona before the Mahabharata war began. This not only softened the old men’s arrows against the Pandavas somewhat, but finally got them the method to kill these two invincible warriors.

— Sai R. Vaidyanathan
The writer can be contacted at svaidyanathan@tribunemail.com

IAF, Navy part of IGNOU community college scheme

The community college scheme of the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), which aims to empower individuals by providing educational certification, is being extended to the Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy, the university declared in a statement last week.

According to the statement, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) will soon be signed between the university and the two forces which will “empower the servicemen”. Educational certification will be awarded to the servicemen, recognising the “in-service training” done by them and in turn provide opportunity for a second career option.

A similar MoU was signed between IGNOU and the Indian Army earlier, as per which the Army-IGNOU community colleges will function as autonomous bodies conducting examinations. — IANS

Fortnightly Quiz-376

1. How many nuclear plants are located in India?

2. How many women officers were recently given permanent commission in the Army?

3. Which country’s train recently broke the world record of speed by touching 486 kmph?

4. Who was crowned Miss Earth 2010 recently?

5. In which year did the Korean War end?

6. How many Indians, according to the United Nations, are HIV+?

7. In which part of the body are varicose veins situated?

8. Name the Australian who recently took a hat-trick against England in the Brisbane Test.

9. How many medals were won by India at the 2010 Guangzhou Asiad?

10. Where will be the 2014 Asian Games held?

— Tarun Sharma

Winners of quiz 375: The first prize by draw of lots goes to Shilpi Khanna, class XII-B, Sohan Lal DAV Senior Secondary School, Ambala City, Jagadhari Gate (Haryana), Pin Code – 134003

Second: Vidhi Ghai, class IX-A, Holy Angels School, Rajpura, Pin Code – 140401

Third: Simran Raina, class VII-A, Mount Carmel School, Sector 47-B, Chandigarh, Pin Code – 160047

Answers to quiz 375: Aung San Suu Kyi; Hyderabad; Sebastian Vettel of Germany; Harbhajan Singh; Sir Donald Bradman, Brian Lara, Virender Sehwag and Chris Gayle; Ashish Kumar; Swimming; Ronjan Sodhi; Rowing; Pankaj Advani

Cash awards of Rs 400, 300 and 200 are given to the first, second and third prize winners, respectively. These are sent at the school address.

Note: Kindly mention the pincode of your place to facilitate the delivery of the prize money.

Answers can also be sent

at quiz@tribunemail.com

Name ……………….…………................................
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