7-14 April, 2025
Tribal Academy, Tejgadh
Organized by Tribal Design Forum
Geographical Indications (GIs) are more than just intellectual property rights — they are a bridge between people, places, and products. They provide legal recognition to traditional knowledge, cultural heritage, and unique craftsmanship, ensuring prosperity for producers while safeguarding authenticity for consumers.
India, with its vast cultural diversity, is home to numerous GI-tagged products, such as Darjeeling Tea, Pochampally Ikat, and Kashmiri Pashmina. These products embody the essence of their geographical origin, carrying forward centuries-old traditions and expertise.
Why This Course Matters for Those Working with Tribal Communities
Tribal communities are the custodians of rich, time-honoured traditions, crafts, and ecological knowledge. However, without proper recognition and legal protection, their cultural heritage is at risk of exploitation, misappropriation, and commercial misuse.
Understanding Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) and GIs can:
- Empower tribal artisans and producers by securing rights over their traditional products
- Protect communities from cultural and economic exploitation
- Facilitate sustainable livelihoods by opening access to fair markets and premium pricing
- Strengthen local economies through branding, rural development, and GI-based tourism
- Provide legal frameworks to advocate for and safeguard indigenous knowledge systems
What You Will Learn
- Introduction to Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) and their role in preserving cultural heritage
- Understanding Geographical Indications (GIs) and their legal framework in India
- The significance of GIs in rural development, branding, and global trade
- Case studies of GI-registered products and their impact on local economies
- The process of GI registration and protection for traditional artisans and communities
- Interactive workshops and discussions with experts in law, business, and indigenous knowledge systems
Course Details:
Venue: Tribal Academy, Tejgadh, Gujarat
Duration: One Week (Residential)
Fee: ₹15,000 per participant (includes accommodation and meals)
Seats: 10 seats only
This course is designed for entrepreneurs, artisans, designers, legal professionals, researchers, and anyone working with or advocating for tribal and indigenous communities.
Join us in this immersive learning experience to explore how Geographical Indications can empower communities, protect cultural heritage, and create sustainable economic opportunities.
About the Course Instructor
Ms. Hetvi Trivedi works with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) as a Consultant for the WIPO Academy. She assists in establishing and implementing educational projects in the Asia-Pacific region. Currently she is engaged on projects in India, Bangladesh, China, Indonesia, Iran, Morocco, Pakistan and Singapore.
Within the subject of IPR, Ms. Trivedi carries a special interest in advancing the understanding on merger between Law and Society through the domains of Traditional Knowledge and Geographical Indications.
Ms. Trivedi holds an LL.M. in Intellectual Property and Information Law from King’s College, London and B.Com LL.B. (Hons.) from Gujarat National Law University. She changed course towards academia and research from the exciting enterprise of law practice and now looks forward to serving the society by designing implementation strategies of her research outcomes and by imparting education.
During her research tenure with Gujarat National Law University from 2017 to 2021, she carried out an extensive study on the efficacy of Geographical Indications Law along with senior colleague Dr. Nidhi Buch. Their research was later published as a book under the title “Geographical Indications of Indian Handlooms – Between Legal Right and Real Right” by Routledge (Taylor & Francis UK).
For more details, contact: varsha@tribaldesignforum.com
