Protecting Creativity

The department of Fashion & Textiles conducted an exclusive guest lecture for upcoming Designers, Creators and Entrepreneurs on “Protecting Creativity”. Special guest for the session was Dr. Radhika Sharma, Associate Professor and Head, Department of Biotechnology, IIS (Deemed to be University) Jaipur. Dr. Radhika explained what is IPR, why is it important to understand IPR ie., Intellectual Property Rights. Anything that our brain has created, has used intellectual strength to create it, needs to be protected. Protection of Ideas, Inventions, Designs and Images can be done through Patents, Copyrights, and Trademarks. Copyright provides various rights to owner and can sue other party if found copying it. She very well explained need to protect Intellectual Property to ensure fair competition, protect consumers and prevent someone from stealing our work. She gave various examples that we may encounter in our daily life like buying copied products from fake companies, and discussed cases from movies and web series for better understanding. Brand name, their Logo, Trade mark plays an important role in identification and gives competitive edge. It distinguishes goods from competitors. One can easily associate brand value by just looking at its logo. The classic Chanel suit designed by Coco Chanel is still sold at high price; no one can copy it due to its copyright. Burberry sued rapper used his stage name ‘Burberry Jesus” and various branding elements that were trademarks of 164 year old British fashion company. It was possible only because Company had protected their property. Another case speaker discussed was about a British designer whose one of the bestselling Tee was copied by other seller who sold them at half price. British designer was helpless and couldn't take any action as she has no rights against her phrases, graphics used in her design. Every budding Designer, Creator and Entrepreneur from any field should have knowledge and awareness about IPR. India’s rich textile and handicrafts, its unique motifs, designs, embroideries need to be protected. Lots of Indian designers and fashion houses register their designs to protect them from copying and theft. At the end Fashion students were made to aware about college having its own IPR office and providing diploma course in IPR that can help them to know more about IPR and can be hyper creative without worrying of theft or copying of their designs.