What is Intellectual Property Law: Course Duration, Admission 2025, Colleges, Salary & Scope

In India and globally, IPR as a career is very popular and that is one of the reasons many lawyers go for a specialisation in intellectual property rights and practice in prosecuting patent law, IP litigations, copyrights, trademarks, etc.

Some of the benefits of starting a career in IPR are listed below:

1. Almost all businesses are now conscious about IPR and hire IPR lawyers to help them with procedures and legalities. Thus, the demand for IPR lawyers will eternally boom.
2. The growth of the industry is promising thus, businesses seek for lawyers who are highly skilled in practicing IPR laws, hence they pay handsome packages to IPR engineers and lawyers.
3. Several fortune 500 companies and other well-known brands like Google, Facebook, Ranbaxy, etc. have their internal team of researchers who are working on constant innovations. Also, they have their own IPR cells which unlock several job opportunities for experts in reputable brands.
4. IPR professionals who get a chance to work for MNCs like IBM or Dr. Reddy's Laboratories get an opportunity to handle international projects as well. 
5. An individual who has the right qualifications in IPR can choose to work in his or her core area of interest.
6. It is easy for individuals to follow a career in IPR. Candidates with technical degrees can take up IPR certification and courses, and move to work as an IPR professional.
7. Government of almost every country encourages companies to go for intellectual rights. Like in India, the government is encouraging startups to go for IPR by sponsoring registration fees of their IP. All these activities have multiplied the number of total registrations in the last 5 years. This has also boosted many infringement IP cases, which have indirectly boosted the requirement of IPR experts resulting in more employment possibilities.

Sure, people who learn IPR Courses are also interested in taking up courses & certifications like:

1. Intellectual Property for Entrepreneurs (Coursera)
2. Intellectual Property Management in the Food Sector: Safeguarding Your Trademarks in the Global Marketplace (FutureLearn)
3. Intellectual Property Law and Policy: Part 1 (edX)
4. Intellectual Property Law and Policy: Part 2 (edX)

Here are some important documents you must carry during an LLM in Intellectual Property Law Course application process for a smooth admission procedure:

• An LLB or any bachelor's relevant degree
• A valid photo ID proof (Adhaar, Passport, PAN Card, etc.)
• Passport-sized photographs (at least two)
• Provisional Certificate
• Migration Certificate

Hi, if you want to pursue a PhD in Intellectual Property Law, here are some steps that'll help you in a seamless process:

• Fulfill the eligibility criteria, i.e., a PG course from a UGC-approved university.
• Clear the required entrance exam with good scores.
• Create a research proposal for your research topic.
• Prepare for interviews and group discussions.

To pursue a career in Intellectual Property Rights, candidates can appear for law entrance exams like

• AIBE
• CLAT
• BHU UET
• DU LLB Entrance Exam
• MHCET Law
• AILET
• KLEE
• LSAT India

Of course, many diplomas and certifications in Intellectual Property Law are offered on a merit basis with no strict eligibility conditions. However, if you want to pursue an LLM or PhD-level course in Intellectual Property Law, you must go through the entrance exam process.

Some popular PG-level courses in Intellectual Property Law are – LLM in Intellectual and Industrial Property Law, LLM in Intellectual Property Rights, LLM in Intellectual Property and Business Law, etc. Postgraduate courses in Intellectual Property Law are of one-year with two semesters. 

In UG level courses candidates need to pursue integrated law courses wherein after completing a basic graduation degree they can specialise in Intellectual Property Law whereas in a PG level law course aspirants can straight away specialise in Intellectual Property Law. 

Some of the popular courses in IP law are the Diploma in Intellectual Property Laws, Post Graduate Diploma in Intellectual Property Laws, Certificate in IPRs- Law and Procedure-Advanced Level, Post Graduate Diploma in IPR and Labour Laws, Certificate in IPR and Patents Law, Certificate in Intellectual Property Law, Post Graduate Certificate in Intellectual Property Law and Practice etc.

Some popular areas where Intellectual Property Laws are applicable are Copyright, Patents, Trademarks, Industrial Design Rights, Plant Variety Rights, Trade Dress, Trade Secrets etc. Laws related to Intellectual Property control who can use creations such as new products, artistic works as well as designs. The reason why intellectual property laws were formulated was to allow individuals who create/ invent things to genuinely profit from their creations/ work.

IPR professionals should have both soft and technical skills including:

Soft Skills

1. Good understanding of laws and their implications
2. Excellent negotiation skills
3. Good at keeping an eye on competitor's strategy
4. Good at relationship-building with clients, media, press, and PR agents
5. Decision-making skills
6. Analytical skills
7. Precise attention to detail
8. Ability to perform a lot of research and draw conclusions
9. Experience in conducting due diligence
10. Research skills

Technical Skills:

1. Experience in legal and technical writing
2. Detailed knowledge of IP protection laws
3. Knowledge of drafting patent applications
4. Expertise in using tools like Questel similar patent search tools, Questel inventor portal, Orbit prior art search tool, etc.
5. Experience in the maintenance and generation of research & technical reports
6. Ability to draft assignment's licensing and agreements
7. Skilled in creating valuation of intellectual property
8. Knowledge and experience in handling infringement and misappropriation cases
9. Basic knowledge of taxation and accounting esp. the ones related to IP
10. Expertise in maximizing royalty amounts
11. Requisite knowledge of handling pre-grant and post-grant opposition 
12. Ability to safeguard client's business by obtaining legal injunctions
13. Knowledge of international laws and systems
14. Good knowledge of mortgaging and pledging
15. Portfolio management skills

The top law colleges in India are as follows, refer out the list given below for more information:

• Rajiv Gandhi School of Intellectual Property Law, IIT Kharagpur
• School of Law, UPES
• NALSAR, Hyderabad
• NUJS, Kolkata
• GNLU, Gandhinagar
• NLU, Jodhpur

Here are some top Intellectual Property Law colleges offering great placement options to students in India:

Note: The information is sourced from the official/counselling body of the institute/exam.

One of the most popular job profiles after completing a course in Intellectual Property Law is to become a lawyer in the same field. Some other job profiles include:

• Patent Officer
• Copyright Officer
• Registrar for Patents and Copyrights
• IPR Lawyer
• Legal Associate
• IPR Consultant

The common subjects that the students must study are history, political science, sports or business management, English, art history, and economics. It is one of the most promising specializations offering wide range of job opportunities. Modern Science and Technological advancements have made it imperative to protect intellectual property.

Intellectual Property law includes the study of the laws that protect the owners and creators of inventions, writing, music, designs and other works, known as "intellectual property". Intellectual Property Law is a law specialisation wherein innovative, as well as marketable work of individuals, is protected. Intellectual property law is a field of law that deals with legal rights related to creative work and inventions.

Laws related to Intellectual Property control who can use creations such as new products, artistic works as well as designs. The reason why intellectual property laws were formulated was to allow individuals who create/ invent things to genuinely profit from their creations/ work.

Taking up the LLB course is highly recommended to start a career in IPR. Many lawyers go for Masters in Law wherein they take IPR as their specialization. Others also prefer to go for a Diploma course in IPR Law along with other recognised IPR certifications and courses.