Nepal Communitere is the Nepali branch of Communitere International, an innovative non-profit, pioneering an effective international model for sustainable disaster recovery. A dynamic organisation based in Kathmandu, it brings together Nepali and international groups to operate as one community. It provides a collaborative space for relief and sustainable renewal, giving individuals and organisations the means to pioneer innovative solutions and become self-reliant.
The Nepal Communitere Resource Center and Innovation Hub effectively enables international, national and local non-governmental organisations and communities to work together to transition from initial emergency relief to long-term development. It hosts companies, student groups and creative individuals and organisations in its collaborative co-working spaces housed creatively in a series of shipping containers. Organisations at the work space include Robotics Association of Nepal (RAN), Orange Ball Pvt. Ltd, Around the Corner, *8 Byte Creative Studio, Nawa Durga Travel and Tours, Nova Tech, Light up and others.
As part of its work, the Communitere team wanted to implement a process to protect the intellectual property of hosted entrepreneurs and organisations. It is with this in mind that Bahar Kumar, Executive Director of Nepal Communitere, reached out to iProbono for pro bono legal advice. The aim of the project was to ensure that organisations are equipped with accurate, compliant and complete documentation to protect their intellectual property. This prevents a person including but not limited to staff members, external trainers, mentors, visitors, from replicating or claiming ownership of innovations and ideas owned by the organisation.
iProbono’s Legal Analyst in Nepal reached out to our local community of lawyers and engaged Prabin Subhedi, founding partner at Paramount Legal Advisory Services.
Advocate Subedi an expert in Internet Communication and technology (ICT) and corporate law, advised Nepal Communitere on IP protection. He suggested that the hosted organisations should ensure that a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) is made between it and everyone associated with their work, including visitors and trainers.
After drafting the NDA template for Nepal Communitere, Advocate Subedi conducted a training session on how to use NDAs and led a consultation on using the document as effectively as possible. Advocate Subedi stated, ‘A project like this fills in the gap between legal fraternity and business community through a mutual project. I am very glad that iProbono is involved in promoting pro bono culture in Nepal and I am part of it.’
iProbono will continue working with Nepal Communitere on upcoming projects to assist in their ongoing and upcoming activities.
