[Assam] Excellent. It is believed that the silk blouse on the Ice maiden of Mongolia(2000yrs old) is of Muga silk from Assam. Is Eree/Endi is also not an exclusive yarn of Assam?

[Bartta Bistar]

Muga recognised as Assam's 'original' yarn

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/details.asp?id=aug2307/at07
By A Staff Reporter
 GUWAHATI, Aug 22 – 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. The Chief Minster will receive it on behalf
of the people of the State, said official sources here.

On behalf of the State's people, the Patent Information Centre (PIC) of the
Assam Science, Technology and Environment Council (ASTEC) had made an
application with the GI Registry of India to register muga as the GI of
Assam on July 20, 2006. It needs mention here that the State Government had
earlier made the PIC the nodal agency for the purpose.

In preparing the application, the PIC consulted and collected information
from the Sericulture Department, ARTFED, Institute of Advanced Studies in
Science and Technology, Archaeology Directorate, Directorate of Historical
and Antiquarian Studies, Gauhati University's Department of Sanskrit and KK
Handique Library and many experts working in the area.

The PIC application was sent to the GI Registry, Chennai through the Patent
Facilitating Centre of Technology Information Forecasting and Assessment
Council of the Union Department of Science and Technology. The Delhi-based
law firm—Corporate Law Group—rendered attorney services to the PIC in this
matter. And now, the GI Registry has registered muga as GI of Assam.

Now the PIC of ASTEC is the registered proprietor of muga on behalf of the
Government of Assam. State's Sericulture Department, ARTFED, Central Silk
Board and farmers and other producers can become authorised users of this
luminous golden silk.

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.
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