Workshop on One day Intellectual Property Rights, Geographical Indication conducted in Arunachal Pradesh

A CORRESPONDENT

ITANAGAR: One day Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) workshop on Geographical Indication (GI) registration was organised at Science Centre by Patent Information Centre (PIC) under Arunachal Pradesh State Council for Science & Technology (APSCS&T) on Tuesday .

APSCS&T Director cum Member Secretary C.D Mungyak while inaugurating the session highlighted the scope of IPR in the State. He said that Arunachal Pradesh being rich in natural resources and indigenous knowledge system has vast scope in the field of IPR. APSCS&T, Joint Director and In charge of PIC Dr. Debajit Mahanta accentuated the objectives and scope of PIC. The initiatives taken by the PIC was also been highlighted on the day.

He urged the participants and the institutions to come up with innovations in the field of IPR which can be registered for patenting and GI from Arunachal Pradesh. It is to mention that only one brand from Arunachal Pradesh ‘ Arunachal Orange (Wakro)’ have been so far registered while several other brand like Muga Silk, Zinger of Karbi Anglong, Litchi of Tezpur and Joha rice, Assam Orthodox Tea, Boka Chaul, from Assam, Pasmina Sawl from Jammu & Kashmir.

The Darjeeling Tea is the first in country to get registered in 2004 and a total of 232 to till March 2018 of various brand of manufacturing, agriculture, horticulture and other items. Participants from different Departments, Institutions, Students, and NGOs attend the workshop the day long workshop. The participants raised several query and which the dignitaries and resource person answer later on the day.

A GI is a sign used in products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin. It is typically used for agricultural products, foodstuffs, wine and spirit drinks, handicrafts and industrial products.