Nagas can make at least 5-10 registrations in the area of textiles and handicrafts, he opined and assured that the government would pursue for more registration. However he reminded that the first step is to strategise on how to market the product. ‘Even if we get registration we have to give our mind and thought on how to market the product’, he maintained. He expressed gratitude to the Horticulture Department for having security to Geographical Indications and felt that the Department of Horticulture and Industries has lot to do in this subject matter.
Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks, P H Kurian, IAS, in his keynote address said that knowledge of intellectual property is very essential for every enterprise to avoid trademark infringement and also to save consumers from deception. Patents, industrial design, trademarks, copyright, trade secrets are individual rights either of a person or legal entity, he stated.
Sensitising the participants with the aid of a PowerPoint presentation, Kurian explained that Geographical Indication identifies agricultural or natural or manufactured goods as originating or manufactured in the territory of a country or region or locality in that territory where a given quality, reputation or other characteristic of such goods are essentially attributable to its geographical origin. He further informed that any association of person or producers or any organisation or authority established by or under a law, representing the interest of producers of the concerned goods can register for GI. It should be a legal entity and registration is purely voluntary, he added.
The Controller General further gave a broad perspective on the effects of registration, registration process, the need to register GI, GIs and Tourism, social development and GIs. Simply registration is not enough; but ensure consistency of quality to make valuable GI, he said.
Commissioner and Secretary, department of Horticulture, Sentiynager Imchen, IAS, proposed the vote of thanks while Additional Chief Secretary and Development Commissioner Alemtemshi Jamir, IAS, chaired the programme. The workshop held at the conference hall of the Directorate of Industries & Commerce was organised by the government of Nagaland and sponsored by Ministry of DoNER and CGDPT.