THERE is a new symbol for the spark of Indian genius. The Union Commerce and Industry Ministry has launched a logo signifying `intellectual property of India', with an aim to build up a new image and identity for the country's inventions and innovations. 
Developed by the National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad, the logo is supposed to herald the products of Indian creativity in the global knowledge economy, according to a Ministry official. ``We want the image to capture the spark of our innovation.'' 
According to Dr Darlie O. Koshy, Executive Director of NID, the process for developing the logo went through many iterations. The process had the involvement from a dedicated team from the Ministry and his Institute. 
The design was selected ``since it gives a global identity and outlook'', he said. ``It connects and shows the spark of intellect. It expands the horizon of knowledge and our intellectual leadership.'' 
While the globe has been graphically inserted in the letter `P' in the logo, the human brain and the spark are inside the dot of the letter `i'. The logo will cover within its ambit intellectual property in the form of patents, designs, trade marks and geographical indications. 
The logo was launched when the Ministry started opening a series of modernised patent offices in various cities of the country. While the New Delhi and Chennai offices were opened in July and August respectively, offices at Kolkata and Mumbai are in the process of being opened. 
A Geographical Indications (GI) Registry was also opened in Chennai in August. The Geographical Indication of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act was passed by the Parliament in December 1999. The Rules to this Act have not yet been finalised. 
In addition to designing the logo, NID is also involved with the modernisation of the offices. According to Dr Koshy, his Institute is currently developing the Kolkata design office and patents office. 

The modernisation of the trade marks office in Mumbai will be carried out in two stages. In the first stage current office will be modernised. Later, a new building will be designed. According to official sources, the effort is to overhaul the national system for identifying and protecting intellectual property. The Government wants to give the rightful importance to the protection of these rights. 
These efforts also includes improving the patent office Web site. The idea is to build a new image and ethos for intellectual property in the country. "

The real modernisation question before the S&T and industrial  community is " When will the Indian Patents Office put its IPR documents on-line ". Any undue delay can cause serious damage to the IPR efforts in the country, they already facing serious challenges of the TRIPS regime.