About Dr. Kalyan
A career shaped by ideas.
Meet Dr. Kalyan C. Kankanala — intellectual property attorney, author, and educator based in Bengaluru, India.
Practice. Perspective. Participation.
Working where law,
business, and creativity meet.
Dr. Kalyan co-founded BananaIP in 2004 at NSRCEL, the entrepreneurship centre of IIM Bangalore. He is the firm’s Managing Partner and Chief IP Attorney, leading its consulting and strategy division.
His work spans IP protection, portfolio strategy, licensing, commercialisation, litigation, and dispute resolution, with technology, creative, and knowledge-driven businesses.
His work with Oxford University Press includes Patents in India and Copyrights in India. He is also the lead author of Indian Patent Law and Practice (opens in a new tab).
His wider writing spans legal fiction and accessibility. He also writes regularly on intellectual property law, business, and policy for Intellepedia (opens in a new tab).
His teaching engagements include patent law and practice at NLSIU and intellectual property at IIM Bangalore. He has also delivered corporate IP training and worked with UNIDO to help MSMEs identify and protect intellectual assets.
Education & credentials
A foundation in law.
Registered Patent Agent, Trade Mark Agent, and Advocate licensed to practise in India.
- Ph.D. in Patent Law
- National Law School of India UniversityBengaluru, India
- LL.M. in IP, Commerce & Technology
- Franklin Pierce Law CenterUSA
- LL.B.
- Osmania UniversityHyderabad, India
A commitment beyond practice
Making participation possible.
Dr. Kalyan provides pro bono support to writers and artists, dancers, musicians and singers, select start-ups, and organisations working for persons with disabilities.
His book Understanding Accessibility introduces the subject through everyday examples, with a focus on a more accessible and inclusive world.
Explore Understanding Accessibility
A conversation starts here
Let’s connect.
For books, intellectual property engagements, and speaking invitations.