This Simulation Role Play is part of the Patent Law and Practice Program being taught by the BananaIP Team to the B.tech-LLB Students of UPES School of Law, Dehradun. This role play was used by Dr. Kalyan C. Kankanala to explain the philosophy behind patent law to the students at UPES. Readers may use the role play content with appropriate attribution to the author.
5000 BC – Harappa, Indus Valley Civilization
“We are here to understand the will of the people. The Learned Group has proposed a law to protect ideas.
The proposed law reads as follows:
“IDEAS OF MEN AND WOMEN RESULTING IN PRODUCTS USEFUL TO THE SOCIETY WILL BE PROTECTED IN THE Republic of INDUS VALLEY by granting ownership rights to creators of ideas for a period of ten years.
NO ONE WILL BE ALLOWED TO USE A PROTECTED IDEA WITHOUT THE PERMISSION OF ITS OWNER”
Now, I open the Forum for discussion. We will put the proposed law to vote at the end of the discussion.
Let The Will of People Prevail.”
The head man sat down after making the announcement, and the debate began.
In line with their law making tradition, all laws in Indus Valley had to be approved by the representatives chosen by the people belonging to different occupations. The representatives debated the law before putting it to vote and deciding its fate.
After preliminary submissions, they divided themselves into four groups for the final debate.
Group 1 constituted of business men, merchants, traders, etc.
Group 2 included artisans, builders, scientists, sculptors, carvers, artists, etc.
Group 3 was made up of doctors, farmers, social workers, public interest groups, etc.
Group 4 was constituted by representatives of other people of Harappa such as warriors, politicians, idlers, and others.
Each group had to take a strong stand about the proposed law, and argue for or against its enactment.
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About Dr. Kalyan C. Kankanala
Dr. Kalyan C. Kankanala manages the largest new age Intellectual Property Firm, BananaIP Counsels, headquartered at Bangalore, India. In addition to helping clients maximize business value from intellectual assets, Dr. Kalyan also consults for United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), and teaches at premier institutions such as National Law School of India University, Bangalore, and Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore (IIM-B).
Professional URL: https://www.bananaip.com/
IP News Centre: https://www.bananaip.com/ip-news-center/
