SPICYIP TIDBITS

1.Muga Recognised as Assams’Original Yarn

A Report from the Assam Tribune

After a long wait, Assam’s luminous golden muga silk has now secured the recognition under the Intellectual Property Rights that it has its origin in Assam only. In the changed trade and commercial scenario under the World Trade Organisation (WTO) regime, this recognition called Geographical Indications (GI) — will definitely provide better legal protection to this golden yarn, its fabric and the people connected with their production.

The certificate of GI registration of muga, which is the first GI right the State has attained, will be presented to the Chief Minister at a function scheduled for 9-45 am of August 24 at the Panbazar auditorium of the Institution of Engineers here.

It needs mention here that in case of GI, only the registered proprietor and authorised users can initiate infringement actions. The authorised users can exercise the exclusive right to use the geographical indication.

With the coveted G.I under its belt, its time to work on the larger socio-economics. As mentioned in the Spicyip blog Emerging Issues in G.I-Muga Silk of Assam,IP rights share a symbiotic relationship with all other factors that impact society at large.

While Spicyip offers its congratulation to the State of Assam, we would also like to make our submission that all other factors need to be addressed for the G.I to take effect in spirit and intent.

2.Calculus from Kerala

Recall Spicyips’ post on Ancient India and Maths,……

An article from the Hindu

A little-known school of scholars in southern India discovered one of the founding principles of modern mathematics hundreds of years before Sir Isaac Newton, to whom the finding is currently attributed, according to new research findings announced here.

George Gheverghese Joseph, an academic and author, says the ‘KeralaSchool’ identified the ‘infinite series’, one of the basic components of calculus, circa 1350.

The discovery is attributed in books to Sir Isaac Newton and Gottfried Leibniz at the end of the 17th century, the University of Manchester reported on in its website.

And there is strong circumstantial evidence that Indians passed on their discoveries to mathematically savvy Jesuit missionaries who visited India during the 15th century. That knowledge, the researchers argue, may have been passed on to Newton.

Dr. Joseph said: “The beginnings of modern math’s is usually seen as a European achievement but the discoveries in medieval India between the 14th and 16th centuries have been ignored or forgotten…

3.Advances in the Human Biomed Sciences.

Spicyip in its blog ‘Its all in the Genes’ reported on the currents trends witnessed in the area of Genetic engineering and the socio-legal implications for mankind at large.

An article in the TOI that’s also sending waves of consternation in international life science circle

In a quest to define life, Scientists claim that ‘We’re close to creating life from scratch’

‘Scientists Expect An Announcment within 3-10 years from Anyone in the Little known Field.’

Craig Venters discovery of a synthetically engineered life form intended to aid production of new fuel lines was a precursor after all to developing new human life forms .

It is worth reflecting that even as we grapple in our minds with the issues and conflicts that are likely to emerge from this new bio-med order, borrowing ethical precepts such as Dharma , Karma and Niyaya from traditional Indian philisophy may just about lend us the markers to reconcile the dichotomies.Bringing in the new with something old and something borrowed, as conventional wisdom suggests could possibly lend that essential touch of sense and sensibility that is required to balance the precarious facets and ethical dilemas that is likely to storm the traditional bastions of society and thought.