Striking a fine balance between protection of private and public interest is vital in intellectual property (IP) management, according to Ms Justice Prabha Sridevan, Chairman, Intellectual Property Appellate Board (IPAB).

In her inaugural address at a conference on best practices of intellectual property management organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) here on Friday, Ms Sridevan said public interest was also an important concept in disposal of cases pertaining to IP.

“A number of safeguards were also included in our Patents Act to safeguard public welfare,’’ she said.

Referring to a notion that the international IP regime would only work to the disadvantage of India, the Chairman of IPAB said: “This gloom is perhaps unnecessary.’’