NLUJAA Call for book chapter on TK, GI and Rights of Indigenous People; Submit by April 30, 2022

Law Mantra

Concept note

Traditional Knowledge (TK) is defined by WIPO as knowledge, know-how, skills and practises which are developed, sustained and then passed on from one generation to the other. It includes tradition based literary, artistic or scientific works; performances; designs; marks, names and symbols; undisclosed information; and other kinds of tradition based innovations and creations which results from the intellectual activity in the industrial, scientific, literary or artistic fields.

Around the world, communities have developed a wide variety of TK. TK plays an important role in the sustainable use of local resources and biodiversity conservation. However, there are many threats to TK today, one of the biggest being bio-piracy.

There are deliberations on intellectual property rights (IPR) regime offering aids in protection of TK. Though some claim that the IPR system does not provide solutions to the major challenges that are faced by the communities who are repositories of TK, there are still many who believe that the IPR regime can offer certain tools which can be used somehow to protect, promote or prevent the misappropriation of such traditional forms of innovation and creativity.

Geographical indications (GI) on the other hand is a very unique IPR. Unlike most IPRs, GI is community owned. GI can be defined as an indication, sign, name which is used on products to indicate that it originates from a particular location or territory. GI signifies that the product possesses certain characteristics, quality or reputation due to its geographical origin. If properly marketed, GI products can fetch premium prices, thereby, improving the socio-economic condition of the producers of such products.

Interestingly, many of the agricultural, foodstuff, handicraft items etc. that come within TK have the potential to be GI. GI cannot provide defensive mechanism to protect these TK but can help the communities to improve the economic condition of the people by fetching premium prices.

The aim of the book is to highlight various unique TK/TCEs and GIs of communities in India and particularly in North-eastern region of India. The book also intends to highlight the unethical exploitation of such TK/TCEs and GIs. The book also seeks to explore the possibility of providing recognition and protection of TK/TCEs and GIs under the IPR Regime.

Broad themes of the book

  1. Need for protection of traditional knowledge: National and International Perspectives
  2. Bio-piracy and Bioprospecting/ Access and Benefit Sharing
  3. Traditional Knowledge and Designs
  4. Traditional Knowledge and Copyright (Folklore, Folk literature, Folk Music, Dance, Art forms etc.)
  5. Traditional Knowledge and Patent
  6. Traditional Knowledge and Geographical Indications
  7. Traditional Knowledge and Plant Varieties
  8. International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture and TK
  9. Patent and defensive protection of TK
  10. Traditional Knowledge, Biodiversity and Genetic Resources in Developing Countries: Issues of Piracy & Protection
  1. The Role of IP in Promoting and Commercializing Products based on TK/TCEs and GIs
  2. Gaps within the IP system that might need to be filled in to ensure the effective protection of TK and TCEs
  3. Intellectual property and the documentation of TK and TCEs
  4. Role of TKDL in protection of TK
  5. Participation by indigenous and local community in protecting TK/TCEs and GIs
  6. Scope of TK as GI.
  7. Challenges of TK based products in GI registration.
  8. Commercialization Strategies for GIs.
  9. GIs and Trade.
  10. GIs and Sustainability.
  11. Challenges in GI Registration.
  12. Case Study on GIs: India and Abroad
  13. Governance of GIs: the role of public authorities
  14. Governance of GIs: role of collective organizations
  15. Control and certification mechanisms for GIs.
  16. Enforcement of GIs.

27. Marketing challenges of GIs
28. Evaluation of impacts of GIs: Social; Economic; Environmental; Cultural

Guidelines for contributors

  1. The sub-themes are broadly suggestive. Author may write on any topic relevant to the theme of the book. Overlapping topic of TK and GI can also be taken up.
  2. All the contributions should be the original work of the contributors. All submissions will undergo the plagiarism test.
  3. The chapters should be ideally above 3000 words.
  4. All articles, notes and comments should provide a brief abstract of 250-300 words.
  5. The text shall be in font style Times New Roman, font size 12, spacing 1.5.
  6. The foot notes shall be in font style Times New Roman, font size 10, spacing 1.
  7. Kindly use footnotes instead of endnotes. Footnotes should conform to the ILI Style of Footnoting.
  8. All submissions are to be made through the following email address: [email protected]
  9. Submission Deadline is April 30, 2022.

    The book will be published by an international or national publisher of repute with ISBN. For any other information please get in touch with

    Prof. (Dr.) V.K. Ahuja

    Vice Chancellor
    National Law University and Judicial Academy, Assam

    Dr. Jupi Gogoi

    Associate Professor
    National Law University and Judicial Academy, Assam

For More Details Click HERE

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *