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THE CENTRE FOR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS-

IFIM LAW SCHOOL,

BANGALORE.

CHARTER

PREAMBLE:

The Centre for Intellectual Property Rights(CIPR) is dedicated to promoting a deeper

understanding of IPR and technology law principles. Intellectual Property Rights are the
marvels of human creation and the study of it will get you closer to the intricacies of the
human mind. The Centre for IPR is established with the notion of creating IPR consciousness
among different stakeholders and creating a platform to promote, nurture, and disseminate
literature relating to IPR. The centre strives to create an actively operating student
community where new initiatives are encouraged, research will flourish, networking’s
promoted and a strong knowledge base for Intellectual Property Rights are established.

The Centre for IPR at IFIM School of Law seeks to:

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● Organise workshops with practical implications in the domain of intellectual property

rights.
● To conduct conferences and seminars in the emerging arenas of IPR
● To arrange discussions and deliberations with experts in the field of IPR.
● To create and disseminate literature concerning emerging trends in Patents,
Trademarks, Copyrights, GI, Industrial Designs, Biological Diversity, Plant varieties,
etc
● To promote innovation and research among the members and students.
● To foster conversations and networking among the members and students to create an
atmosphere of IPR consciousness on campus.
● To advocate for the ethical and responsible application of IPR and technology,
recognizing its impact on innovation, creativity, and societal well-being.
● The CIPR serves as a platform for open discourse and exchange of ideas among
academics, practitioners, policymakers, and industry stakeholders.

In pursuit of these objectives, the CIPR establishes the following core principles:

● Excellence: Upholding the highest standards of scholarship, research, and practice in

the field of IPR and technology law.
● Accessibility: Providing educational and research opportunities to diverse audiences,
regardless of background or experience.
● Innovation: Embracing new approaches and perspectives to address the challenges
posed by the convergence of IPR and technology.
● Collaboration: Fostering partnerships and cooperation with academics, practitioners,
policymakers, and industry stakeholders.
● Sustainability: Promoting the responsible and sustainable development of IPR and
technology law for the benefit of society.

Through its unwavering commitment to these principles, the CIPR aspires to be a leading
force in shaping the future of intellectual property rights and technology law.
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MISSION STATEMENT

The Center for Intellectual Property Rights is committed to heightening awareness within various
segments of the legal community regarding the growing importance of Intellectual Property
Rights. This commitment is fulfilled through the organization of workshops, conferences, and
seminars, as well as by promoting, nurturing, and disseminating literature related to IPR.

VISION STATEMENT

The centre for Intellectual Property Rights vision is to create a platform for IPR consciousness
among different stakeholders and to bring excellence in research and intellectual stewardship
through interdisciplinary collaboration, cutting-edge research, and practical engagement.

EXTENT:

This Charter applies to all students and members of IFIM Law School, Bengaluru. It shall be in
addition to and not in contradiction to the rules and regulations of the Law School for the time
being in force and updated/modified thereafter.

Table of Contents
CHAPTER 1: GOVERNANCE OF THE CENTRE....................................................................5
CHAPTER 2: OPERATION OF THE CENTRE.........................................................................7
CHAPTER 3: POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE CENTRE FOR IPR........................................9
CHAPTER 4: SELECTION OF MEMBERS & STUDENT COUNCIL....................................15
CHAPTER 5: RULES AND PROCEDURE FOR PARTCIPATION IN EXTERNAL
CONFERENCE/COMPETITIONS..........................................................................................17
CHAPTER 6: COMPLAINT AND APPELLANT PROCEDURE.............................................19
CHAPTER 7: AMENDING PROVISIONS...............................................................................20
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CHAPTER 1: GOVERNANCE OF THE CENTRE

The Centre for IPR shall duly constitute all operations and nature of governance of a student-run
Centre, it shall additionally receive support from the Faculty Chairs for respective matters of
importance. The responsibility of the Centre’s undertakings and operations shall be executed and
convened by the student members with the receipt of approval from the Faculty Chairs.

The IFIM CENTRE FOR IPR shall constitute the following:

The IFIM CIPR shall be governed by a dedicated committee of Faculty Members (as appointed),
the Student Council (as elected) and the Members of the cell, assuming various responsibilities.
The committee will oversee the strategic direction, policies, and operations of the Center.

FACULTY MEMBERS:

Faculty Chair: Prof. Nithin Rajeev

Faculty Co-Chair: Prof. Pooja Ogale

In the absence of the Faculty Chair, the Faculty Co-Chair will take the final call on decisions
of the Centre for IPR

STUDENT COUNCIL:

❖ Convenor

❖ Co-Convenors

❖ Secretary
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❖ Vertical Heads(Applicable throughout the academic year)

In the absence of the Faculty Members, the liberty to take the final call on decisions of the
Centre for IPR will fall on the Student Convenors.

STUDENT MEMBERS:

Each year, student members of the Centre for IPR will undergo incubation through the annual
intake process. This process involves applicants submitting a Statement of Purpose and
completing an assessment task to demonstrate their interest and capability in joining the centre.
Subsequently, candidates will participate in a session with an Interview Panel, which includes
faculty chairs and student convenors. Selection for student membership will be based on the
quality of the Statements of Purpose, and candidates' performance in the Interview Session will
be evaluated as part of the overall assessment.
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CHAPTER 2: OPERATION OF THE CENTRE

A. The CIPR, IFIM Law School shall undertake the following activities under three
verticals:
1. Education and Training:
● Develop and offer IPR workshops, and training programs for members of the
Centre and the students of IFIM.
● Collaborate with renowned IPR practitioners and institutions to enhance the
quality and relevance of educational offerings.
● Workshops will be conducted for policy training in socio-economic issues related
to IPR and technology themes.
● Workshops will be conducted to induce professional skills such as patent drafting,
IP valuation etc.
● Conduct periodic group discussions and group activities to ensure maximum
engagement by the members involving contemporary topics of IPR & Technology
law.
2. Research and Innovation:
● Research IPR emerging trends, and their application in various sectors.
● Establish a platform encouraging faculty and students to engage in IPR-related
research through blog writing, conference papers, etc.
● Quarterly publication on a social media platform to highlight both national and
international developments in the field of IPR and Technology.
● The policy vertical will be releasing a white paper on contemporary issues of IPR
and technology by collaborating with policy institutions and think tanks.
3. Collaboration and Partnerships:
● Foster partnerships with law firms, corporations, government bodies, and non-
profit organizations to enhance the opportunities offered to Student Members in
the field of IPR.
● Collaborate with other IPR centres and institutions globally to exchange
knowledge and best practices.
4. Organization of Competitions:
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● The Center for Intellectual Property Rights (CIPR) will annually issue a "call for
blogs," inviting submissions from individuals interested in contributing to the
discourse on intellectual property matters. This initiative is designed to actively
seek and welcome insightful and innovative blog posts, fostering a collaborative
platform for sharing diverse perspectives and expertise within the field of
intellectual property rights.

● Annual Organization of an Intra-College IPR Competition is facilitated through

collaborations with various centres within IFIM Law School. This collaborative
effort aims to create a comprehensive and engaging event that draws on the
diverse expertise and resources available across different centres within IFIM Law
School.

5. Participation in External Competitions:

● Maintain a conducive environment for IPR within the Law School and aid teams
with their preparation as well as resources, and mentoring.

● Notify IPR competitions and IPR conferences and take final decisions on
teams/individuals representing the Law School.

● The Centre for IPR may consider implementing appropriate measures, as deemed
necessary, in response to individuals engaging in activities or behaviours contrary
to the principles outlined in the Centre for IPR Charter. The aim is to uphold the
values and objectives of the Centre while fostering a conducive and compliant
environment.

● The Centre for IPR reserves all rights to introduce additional screening processes
like preliminary abstract submission, final draft of the research papers, plagiarism
reports, etc with relation to external conferences or competitions in the field of
IPR.

6. Credit System:
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● The credit system for committee members involves the recognition of outstanding
performance through the designation of "Member of the Month," determined by
a comprehensive evaluation of their contributions across two key metrics.
● The first metric focuses on a member's substantial contributions to the centre,
encompassing research efforts both within the organization and externally. This
includes achievements such as publishing blogs, presenting papers, and
participating in competitions within the realms of Intellectual Property Rights
(IPR) and Technology.
● The second metric assesses a member's impact on the centre through active
engagement in various activities, such as event organization, outreach initiatives,
and other significant endeavours as defined by the core committee. This
multifaceted approach ensures that the recognition extends beyond individual
research accomplishments to encompass a holistic assessment of a member's
overall dedication and involvement in the centre's objectives.
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CHAPTER 3: POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE CENTRE FOR IPR

A. POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE STUDENT COUNCIL:

1. Powers of the Student Convenor:

● The Student Convenor shall have the power to appoint, with the advice and guidance
of the Faculty Chairs, some members of the Centre as the Heads to govern and bring
into effect various verticals (Areas of work) of the Centre.

● The Student Convenor shall have the power to direct the vertical heads and other
members regarding the work assigned.

● The decision of the Student Convenor shall be final and binding, provided with the
consent of the Faculty Chairs on matters of higher importance.

● The Student Convenor shall communicate with the members officially.

● All official communication of the IFIM Centre for IPR, outside of IFIM Law School
shall be made in the name of the Student Convenor.

2. Powers of the Student Co-Convener:

● The Student Co-Convener shall have the same power as the Student Convener in the
absence of the Student Convener.
● The Co-convener shall have the power to delegate tasks to their vertical heads and other
members regarding the work assigned.

3. Duties of the Student Convenor:

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● The Student Convenor shall act as a liaison between the members and the Faculty
Chairs.

● The Student Convenor shall convene regular meetings.

● The Student Convenor shall be responsible for the functioning of the IFIM Centre for
IPR. The Student Convenor should have a birds-eye view of everything happening in
the Centre for IPR.

● The Student Convenor shall be responsible for conducting the scrutiny process of
research for the centre, whether on social media or any platform.

● The Student Convenor shall be accountable to the Faculty Chairs.

4. Duties of the Co-convenor:

● The Student Co-Convener shall have the same duties as that of the Student
Convener, even in the presence of the Student Convener.
● The Student Co-Convener shall be accountable to the Faculty Chairs and the
Student Convener.
● The Student Co-Convener shall assist the Student Convener in carrying out his
duties.

5. Powers and duties of the Secretary:

● The Secretary shall maintain all the records of the IFIM’s Centre for IPR.

● The Secretary shall call for a meeting on the instructions of the Student Convenors
and also decide the agenda for the meeting.

● The Secretary shall make all official communication of the IFIM Centre for IPR,
within IFIM Law School.

● The Secretary shall be informed about the teams going to any National or
International IPR Conferences, and also maintain the records for the same.
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● The Secretary shall keep track of all the members of the Center for IPR for awarding
“Member of the Month” based on the assessment done by the Student Convener
and the Co-convener.

6. Powers and Duties of the Vertical Heads:

● The CIPR shall operate in three verticals: Research, Social Media and Policy

● The Heads of the above-mentioned wings shall constitute the core committee for the
academic year.

● The Head of each vertical shall have the power to decide on the functions and
undertakings of the wing and shall maintain a record of the same.

● The vertical heads shall assign and review every work of the committee members.

● The head of each vertical shall be answerable to the Faculty Chairs and Student
Convenors of CIPR.

B. POWERS OF THE COMMITTEE:

● The Committee shall have the sole authority to regulate all IPR activities of IFIM
Law School.

● The Committee shall have the power to issue circulars and notifications to regulate
IPR activities in the institution.

● The committee shall have the power to appoint additional members in the committee
after consultation with the Faculty Chairs, Centre for IPR.

C. REMOVAL OF MEMBERS:

● The Faculty Chairs shall have the power to suspend the membership of any member
without any impeachment proceedings.
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● Any Member of the Centre for IPR, who fails to attend the scheduled meetings of the
said, for 3 consecutive times without communicating any reasonable cause, will be
disbarred from the committee and will be up to the discretion of the Faculty Chairs to
attain the exceptions, if any.

1. Grounds for termination or suspension:

● If they are found engaging in activities violating the provisions of this Charter.
● If the Faculty Chair and Faculty Co-Chair believe that they are not contributing
towards the Centre for IPR and not conducting their duties and tasks assigned to
them properly.
● If they are found to be negligent towards his or her duties as envisaged under this
Charter.
● If they are found engaging in activities violating the rules and regulations of
IFIM.
● If they are found engaging in unlawful/illegal activities.

2. Procedure:

● A Show Cause notice to the defaulter shall be sent by the Faculty Chair.
● A notice of suspension or termination, with the stipulated time of suspension shall
be issued to the defaulter by the Faculty Chair.
● The final decision on whether a suspension or termination is to be issued will be
taken by both the Faculty Chair and Faculty Co-Chair jointly.
● If any member wishes to resign from the membership, the same shall be
conveyed to the Student Convenor. After acceptance of resignation by the Student
Convenor and the Faculty Chair, a new member can be appointed.
● Any student member wishing to resign from membership shall only be permitted
to do so after the completion of at least one month post the intakes for the
upcoming term.
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D. CODE OF CONDUCT:

● Any Member of the Centre for IPR, who fails to attend the scheduled meetings of the
said, for 3 consecutive times without communicating any reasonable cause, will be
disbarred from the committee and will be up to the discretion of the Faculty Chairs to
attain the exceptions, if any.

● During each term of the operation of the Centre, all student members must
mandatorily either;

- Participate in at least one external IPR conference, representing the Law

School, OR

- Publish at least one piece of research either independently or otherwise.

● All the members must abide by the IFIM Law School Centre for IPR Charter.

● The proceedings of the meetings shall strictly be in English.

● All official communication shall be done only through the Official Centre for IPR
WhatsApp Group or E-mail Address.

● The Secretary shall maintain the minutes of the meeting.\

● A member shall inform the committee, in advance, in case of failure to attend the
meeting through E-mail: ([email protected]) addressing the Student Convenors.

D. EDITORIAL PROCESS

● The Editorial team shall take responsibility for communicating and acknowledging the
external submission within 48 hours of receiving the submissions.
● Upon receiving a submission, the Vertical-Head conducts an initial review. This process
includes a formal examination to verify that the author's identity is not disclosed on the
manuscript, assess the length, and identify any instances where the submission is
unsuitable. Typically, this stage is finalized within 48-72 hours from the submission date.
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● Following anonymization, the manuscript is allocated to a Copy editor for evaluation

based on the following criteria:
1. Relevancy of the topic
2. Adhering to the guidelines
● If the manuscript meets the criteria outlined by the Copy editor, it is proposed for a
second round of review. The Copy editor is not authorized to approve the manuscript
under any circumstances and can solely suggest a second review. Conversely, if the
manuscript is deemed unsuitable, the editor retains the authority to reject the submission
at this stage.
● Following the suggestion for a second round of review, a Content editor is assigned to
evaluate the anonymized manuscript using the following criteria:
1. Language, Grammar and Sentence Construction
2. Identification of Relevant Issues
3. Depth of Research
4. Clarity of Argument
5. Originality and Innovation
● The Content editor merely recommends the review check to the Vertical head
once the manuscript is found suitable based on the above criteria.
● The Vertical head, after the review can add comments and remarks on the blog
submission, if any. The submissions can be rejected by the Vertical head if the
manuscript is deemed unsuitable.
● The Final Review will be conducted by the Student Convener and Co-Convener,
guided by the advice of faculty chairs, and their decision will be deemed final and
binding.
● Any acceptance or changes to be made shall be communicated to the author
within 4 weeks of the submission of the manuscript.
● The vertical head of the research team is responsible for keeping records of all the
submissions made in a manner prescribed.
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CHAPTER 4: SELECTION OF MEMBERS & STUDENT COUNCIL

1. SELECTION OF STUDENT MEMBERS:

● Members will be selected by a panel of faculty members including the Faculty Chair and
Faculty Co-Chair along with the Student Council.
● The panel shall lay down special eligibility criteria for respective posts at their discretion.
● Their decision will be final and binding.
● The candidates will be asked to submit an Expression of Interest along with the
curriculum vitae and an assessment task.
● This shall then lead to the selection of students who will be called for personal interviews.
● The final selection will be done based on a personal interview.
● The tenure will be ideally for one academic year unless the member is retained or
Expelled.

2. SELECTION OF CONVENOR AND CO-CONVENOR:

● Candidates eligible for the position of Student Convener must be in their 4th year for the
5-year BBALLB program or 2nd year for the 3-year LLB program. They are eligible to
nominate themselves for the mentioned post.
● Candidates eligible for the position of Student Co-Convener must be in their 3rd year for
the 5-year BBALLB program or 2nd year for the 3-year LLB program. They are eligible
to nominate themselves for the mentioned post.
● The Student Convenor and Co-convenors shall be appointed through the means of a
democratic election process. The Top two candidates for Convenorship with the
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maximum number of votes shall be declared Convenor and Co-convenors respectively

for the respective term.
● Student members interested in holding the said position shall apply for the position of
“Convenor” and “Co-Convenor” via formal communication to the Centre post the
announcement of the invitation for Convenorship. Provided that, no candidate contesting
for the said position shall priorly hold any other such position in any Centre/Committee
within IFIM Law School.
● The Student Convenor and Co-convenor shall be allowed to deliver a Leadership Pitch
before/ on the day of the democratic election.

3. SELECTION OF SECRETARY:

● The Student Secretary shall be appointed through the means of a democratic election
process.
● Student members interested in holding the said position shall apply for the position of
“Secretary” via formal communication to the Centre post the announcement of the
invitation for the Secretaryship. Provided that, no candidate contesting for the said
position shall priorly hold any other such position in any Centre/Committee within IFIM
Law School.
● The Candidates shall be allowed to deliver a Leadership Pitch before/ on the day of the
democratic election
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CHAPTER 5: RULES AND PROCEDURE FOR PARTCIPATION IN EXTERNAL

CONFERENCE/COMPETITIONS

I. NOTIFICATION FOR PARTICIPATION:

● The CIPR shall notify students about all upcoming National and International IPR
competitions/conferences via email.

● Students must express their interest in participating in any competition by sending an

email to the official email address of CIPR.

● Participation in a competition is restricted to students who submit an Expression of

Interest (EOI). In other words, no student is allowed to engage in any competition
without informing the CIPR.

II. RULES AND PROCEDURES:

1. Eligibility Criteria:
● Participation in conferences/competitions organised by other colleges are open to
all currently enrolled students of IFIM Law School.
● Students must maintain satisfactory academic standing and adhere to the code of
conduct set forth by IFIM Law School.

2. Registration and Documentation:

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● Approved students must complete the registration process for the

conference/competition as per the guidelines provided by the organizing college.

3. Code of Conduct:
● Participating students are expected to represent IFIM Law School with
professionalism, integrity, and respect for the host institution's rules and
regulations.
● Any behaviour deemed inappropriate, including misconduct or violation of the
host institution's code of conduct, will result in disciplinary action by IFIM Law
School.
4. Compliance:
● Participation in conferences/competitions organized by other colleges implies
acceptance and compliance with these rules and procedures.
● Failure to comply with these rules and procedures may result in disqualification or
other disciplinary actions at the discretion of the IFIM Law School administration.
5. Confidentiality:
● Any information shared with students regarding conferences/competitions
organized by other colleges, and approval decisions is confidential and for
internal use only.
● Students must maintain confidentiality and refrain from sharing sensitive
information with external parties without authorization.
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CHAPTER 6: COMPLAINT AND APPELLANT PROCEDURE

I. Against the Convenor, Co-Convenor, Secretary, Core Committee, or Student

Members

A complaint in writing is to be given to the Faculty Chair of the Centre for IPR with
substantial reasoning.

II. Appealing against a ban

An appeal in writing to the Faculty Chair of the Centre for IPR stating why the ban
should be reversed. The Faculty Chair’s decision will be final on such a matter.

III. Appealing against a suspension or termination

A written appeal to the Faculty Chair stating why the suspension should be reversed.
Depending on the written submission, the suspension may or may not be lifted.
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CHAPTER 7: AMENDING PROVISIONS

● This charter may be amended with the approval of the Center's governing committee,
ensuring that any changes align with the mission and objectives of the Center.

● Any member of the CIPR can propose an amendment to this Charter. Such a proposal
shall be communicated to the Student Council.

● It shall be taken up in the agenda of the next meeting.

● The proposing member shall be allowed to explain the proposed amendment in the
meeting.

● Such an amendment has to be passed by at least a simple majority of the members

present.

● A passed amendment shall come into effect from the moment the results of the voting
hour are announced.

● The Faculty Chair shall have veto power in case of a deadlock.