‘Nagas facing threat of identity theft’

Mhonlumo Kikon, MLA & Advisor, Science & Technology, IT & NRE and others releasing a booklet during the state level workshop on ‘Geographical Indication & Intellectual Property Rights- Traditional Knowledge, Textiles & Crafts’ at Hotel Japfü, Kohima. (DIPR Photo) 

Morung Express News
Kohima | October 4

The State level workshop on ‘Geographical Indication & Intellectual Property Rights- Traditional Knowledge, Textiles & Crafts’ was held on October 4 at Hotel Japfü, Kohima. 

Themed “Reach for Gold: Protecting Indigenous & Traditional Heritage through Intellectual Property Rights”, the workshop was organised by the Patent Information Center & Biotechnology Hub Nagaland Science & Technology Council (NASTEC) and Department of Science and Technology, Government of Nagaland with Mhonlumo Kikon, MLA & Advisor, Science & Technology, IT & NRE, Government of Nagaland as the special guest.

“We are facing one very important crisis because our very heritage and identity is at stake,” said Zavei Hiese, Chief Scientific Officer, Department of Science and Technology. Making a mention of the unique identity of the Nagas that separates them from the rest, Dr. Hiese expressed that this uniqueness is in danger of being taken advantage of.

“We say that Nagas are unique that we have a unique history and culture. And these things clearly separates us from the crowd but we are now facing a threat of identity theft,” said Dr. Hiese citing an incident last year where the department discovered that the GI tag for various Naga shawls were applied by an outside entity without the consultation of the tribes.

Relating to the incident, Mhonlumo Kikon mentioned how it is easy for outsiders to market and take advantage of one's culture if the intellectual property rights are not protected or Geographical Indication are not recognized. “We have to ensure that our knowledge is not marketed and financially benefitted by others. This workshop will lead to further decisions. It is necessary in this age and time that we make use of GI and the processes that the government has put in place for our protection. In the storm of commercialization we will lose out,” viewed Kikon who expressed hope that the workshop will ensure the positive decisions to protect the Naga heritage based on informed knowledge.

“We have come here to protect the ingenuity of your ancestors, to ensure that the ingenuity of our ancestors is properly protected by the laws that exist today. If one is not informed of the existing laws, you are failing your ancestors. Let us not fail our ancestors,” remarked Kikon.

While every society have to move forward in tandem with the changing world, Wonchio Odyuo, NCS, Joint Secretary, Science & Technology Department urged that one must not leave behind one's roots and  tradition. “Through Geographical Indication and IPR, let us convert our traditional knowledge to a commercially exploitable potential. All societies where such rights are protected will witness cultural advancement and bring economic progress,” stated Odyuo.

Resource Persons Dr. Chitra Arvind, Patent Attorney, Partner LEX IP Care, New Delhi oriented the participants on 'IPR: Protecting Intellectual Property', 'Geographical Indications-Opportunities and Challenges' and 'Patent and Industrial Design', while, Dr Nesatalu Hiese, Scientist D NASTEC spoke on the need of GI in the Nagaland context. 

“If you don't document and protect traditional knowledge, we cannot expect our generations to continue with this knowledge,” said Dr. Arvind stressing on the need to protect and document one's knowledge and ideas. While mere ideas cannot be protected, Dr. Chitra asserted that the expression of ideas into concrete, tangible forms in the form of books, clothes, music etc can be protected.

With the rising need of IPR today to protect the interest of creators over their creation and innovation, Dr. Chitra highlighted the various forms of IPR which enables the protection and safeguard of one's intellectual property namely Patents, Copyrights, Trademarks, Industrial Design, Geographical Indications, Layout Design of Integrated Circuits, Plant Variety protection & Farmer's Rights and Trade Secrets.

The workshop was attended by participants from various departments and tribal bodies.