Launch of the L2Pro India IP E-Learning Platform

0001On 14th October, 2019, the Centre for Innovation, Intellectual Property and Competition, CIIPC, NLU Delhi, announced the launch of the L2Pro India IP E Learning Platform at Udyog Bhawan, DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The platform was launched in collaboration with the Cell for IPR Promotion and Management, CIPAM, DPIIT, Government of India, and Qualcomm Inc.

L2Pro India Platform

0002The L2Pro India IP E Learning Platform was developed to educate startups, MSMEs, and innovators on the protection and enforcement of their intellectual property.

0003The course was divided into three levels. The Basic Level provided an overview of the intellectual property landscape in India. The Intermediate and Advanced Levels covered more detailed aspects of protecting, managing, and commercialising intellectual property, funding, the role of IP and technical standards, and IP dispute settlement.

0004The course included interactive introductory and summary videos, electronic text explaining key concepts, brain teasers, practical information, and assessments. The content was authored by Prof. Yogesh Pai, Assistant Professor of Law, Coordinator of the IPR Chair and Co Director of CIIPC, NLU Delhi, and Ms. Pragya Chaturvedi, Research Fellow, CIIPC.

Welcome Address

0005Mr. Rajiv Aggarwal, Joint Secretary, DPIIT, delivered the welcome address and opening remarks. He thanked the Hon’ble Minister for launching the platform and expressed appreciation for the participation of the teams from Qualcomm, NLU Delhi, and CIPAM.

0006Mr. Aggarwal stated that while the launch itself might appear to be a small step, the effort behind it was significant. He also expressed confidence in continued cooperation among the participating teams to develop an IP ecosystem across the country.

0007He further stated that although the platform was primarily intended for startups and MSMEs, there were plans to introduce it in academic institutions as well.

Address by Qualcomm

0008Mr. Parag Kar, Vice President, Qualcomm, provided an overview of the platform and highlighted that it had been customised for India. He noted that the L2Pro platform had already been implemented in countries including Germany and Italy.

0009Mr. Kar explained that the platform aimed to help protect and monetise innovation, particularly in the startup sector. He also discussed plans to develop a marketing strategy to increase the reach of the course.

0010Mr. Alexander H. Rogers, Executive Vice President and President, Qualcomm Technology Licensing, thanked the teams at DPIIT and NLU Delhi. He highlighted the importance of awareness regarding the protection, monetisation, and use of intellectual property, particularly among startups.

Address by NLU Delhi

0011Prof. Dr. Ranbir Singh, Vice Chancellor, NLU Delhi, discussed the role of startups and MSMEs in economic growth and referred to developments in areas such as 5G networks, artificial intelligence, and big data.

0012He expressed confidence in the collaboration between the Ministry, NLU Delhi, and Qualcomm in undertaking the L2Pro India project. He also highlighted the importance of protecting and enforcing intellectual property for startups working with innovation, new technologies, and creative ideas.

0013Prof. Singh noted the progress made by the project and highlighted the interactive nature of the application and web versions. He stated that the course could be useful not only for startup founders and SMEs but also for anyone seeking to learn about intellectual property.

Launch

0014The launch included the display of the course overview video, initial screens from the patents module, and an introductory video from the same module.

0015The Hon’ble Minister welcomed the attendees, including the teams from Qualcomm and NLU Delhi and Mr. Rajiv Aggarwal, Joint Secretary, DPIIT. He expressed his support for the collaboration between the Ministry, Qualcomm, and NLU Delhi and highlighted the usefulness of the course for the startup community.

0016He also emphasised the importance of legal knowledge concerning intellectual property rights and their protection and stated that the platform could help address this gap among startups.

Conclusion

0017The launch marked the commencement of the Basic Level of the L2Pro India Platform. The Intermediate and Advanced Levels were to follow in the subsequent months.

0018The platform was also launched in the form of a mobile application, with availability on the Google Play Store and Apple Store planned shortly