Processing .....please wait.. 
The article has been forwarded.... 
News >> Technology >>
Microsoft announces awardees of its MIPSP initiative
By siliconindia
|
Wednesday, 23 January 2008, 17:24 IST
Bangalore: Microsoft India has announced the awardees of the 'Microsoft Intellectual Property Scholar Program' (MIPSP), an initiative aimed at capacity building in the area of IT and Intellectual Property. Initiated in 2006 with scholarships for the students of NALSAR, the program has now been extended to other law colleges and universities across the country. The scholarships amount to Rs 80,000 ($2000) per student.
The 33 recipients of the IPR scholarships were felicitated by H R Bharadwaj, Union Minister of Law and Justice and Neelam Dhawan, Managing Director, Microsoft India.
The 11 colleges to which the winners belong are, Symbiosis Society's Law College in Pune, NALSAR University of Law in Hyderabad, Government Law College (GLC) in Mumbai, Army Institute of Law in Mohali, Hidayatullah National Law University (HNLU) in Raipur, National University of Juridical Sciences in Kolkata, University School of Law and Legal Studies, GGS Indraprastha University in New Delhi, National Law Institute University in Bhopal, ILS Law College in Pune, National Law University in Jodhpur and National Law School of India University in Bangalore.
H R Bharadwaj, while felicitating the recipients, said, "The goal of promoting intellectual property law represents a fundamental attempt to promote the overall technological, innovative and artistic capacity of the nation."
Though India has some of the most progressive IP laws in the world, it has one of the highest piracy rates, which obviously acts as a deterrent to innovation. To build a true culture of innovation and respect for it, the country needs to progress in intellectual property protection. Both the Microsoft IPR Scholarships and the online legal portal are initiatives to encourage young legal students to think and start a discourse about the issue. At the event, Bharadwaj also announced the setting up of www.legaladda.com, a legal online community portal for young ones interested in legal issues to interact and share ideas.
The scholarships are awarded basis the evaluation of students' research papers, on pre-approved topics related to IPR, by experts from the law firm of Amarchand and Mangaldas, and the Legal and Corporate affairs team at Microsoft India.