World IP Day 2023: Women and IP

World IP Day

World IP Day - Date

April 26^th is celebrated as World Intellectual Property or World IP Day from year 2000 onwards. In 1970, on April 26^th, “WIPO Convention” had come into force. In 2000, WIPO's member states designated April 26 as World IP Day.

2023 Theme

Each year, a theme is assigned. The theme for 2023 is- “Women and IP: Accelerating Innovation and Creativity”

Source: WIPO

An Open Letter To NABARD Regarding Odisha GIs

To,

NABARD

Namaskar

Jaya Shree Jagannatha

Jaya Shree Baladevjew

Ref: Misinformation and Misrepresentation in the Odisha GI Applications Supported by NABARD

Regarding: the incorrect details and wrong information provided in our Odisha Geographical Indication (GI) applications that have been filed with the support of NABARD recently. 

It is a huge disappointment to find that many Odisha GI applications supported by NABARD have simply been filed hurriedly with wrong information and incorrect technical details and specifications.

- Our state name and GI product names are also not properly spelled in the applications.

- The number of producers/artisans are far higher/lower than what has been specified and filed. 

- The real producer groups have not been represented as Applicants and "Registered Proprietors"; rather chosen Applicants are non-related people and organizations, who were/are not involved/working with the products.

How can the present applicants claim to even be bothered about “protecting” our producer groups and our community's and state’s rights, when they do not even think of taking extra care to share the correct information in the GI applications? They have not even given due respect to our state by even spelling "Odisha" correctly!

Shouldn’t a proper and inclusive study with visits to geographical areas and investigative research first be done before GI filing? 

Indigenous Knowledge, IPR, Rasgulla And Indian Sweets #RasagolaA2Z

IN 2015, FOLLOWING OUR RASAGOLA DIBASA / RASGULLA DAY MAIDEN CELEBRATION ONLINE ON JULY 30, #RASAGOLADIBASA TRENDED AND THERE WERE DISCUSSIONS AND DEBATES ABOUT RASGULLA "ORIGIN". 

That was the purpose of our celebration - to end the Rasgulla debate and controversy and settle it in the favour of truth and research i.e. in Odisha's favour.

However, even today, there is much misinformation regarding Chhena and Rasgulla "invention" both on internet and offline.

Rasgulla is just thought to be synonymous with another state and its capital city, and not Odisha. Searches on internet reveal the ignorance. Odisha is still not being given any credit for Rasgulla despite being this dessert's birthplace.

Source: Twitter

Zealously Use And Promote Geographical Indications #OdishaGI #GIsofIndia

The previous post - YES To Geographical Indications; NO to Fake Products, and the present one- Zealously Use And Promote Geographical Indications, both stress on saying yes and using and promoting authentic GI products. (And avoiding the fake products.)

Know About GIs

How can we zealously use and promote Geographical Indications if we have no idea what they are or are clueless about their existence?

How can we acknowledge someone or something when we are not aware of their presence? 

First, we need to know about them, learn about their importance, and be in a position to understand how and why they are worthy to deserve our acknowledgement and praise.

We need to read and learn about them from reliable sources (as there is a lot of misinformation and fake news.)

Do you know how many GI products does your district or state have? What are they? 

Time to find out.

GIs of Odisha

Odisha Rasagola Earns GI Tag #OdishaRasagola

Odisha has finally earned the GI tag for Odisha Rasagola on 29th July, 2019!

The GI Application for "Odisha Rasagola" was filed on February 23, 2018, by Odisha Small Industries Corporation Limited (OSIC), under the MSME Department of the Govt. of Odisha.  Utkal Mistanna Byabasayee Samiti, an association of Rasagola sweet-makers of Odisha, was the joint applicant.