Honoring World Intellectual Day: Addressing True Cultural and Scientific Innovations of Nepal

As Kathmandu School of Law celebrates the World Intellectual Property Day 2024 this time with an appeal to intellectual property and sustainable development, Executive Director of Kathmandu School of Law Prof. Dr. Yubaraj Sangroula explicitly conveys the necessity of understanding the true concept of Intellectual Property Rights in the context of Nepal. Looking critically through the lenses of intangible rights and its preservation in Nepal, he deconstructs how the term “Copyrights” has been used as a narrative and not recognized true wisdom and thought of innovation rather only has scope of aiding the one who appears to claim it.

Addressing intellectual property rights has rigorously failed to conserve the scientific innovations of Nepal which are inventions of not only now but ranges from long time before. Rights simply hasn't complied in protecting true essence of innovation in its intangible nature. As copyrights hasn't been able to decodify the true spirit of righteousness in the context of Nepal hence rare innovations have replenished its true identity which has also subsequently contributed in identity crisis of individual’s nationality. Prof. Sangroula also refers to several authentic innovations of Nepal that has not touched the concern of conserving its authentic identity with the aids of intellectual property starting with few examples like  Nepali milk tea, सिन्की food,  दौरा सुरूवाल and even Lokta paper नेपाली and such various exemplary sustainable and scientific innovations of Nepal. If there is no initiation of claiming our innovations it is inevitable that it shall be claimed by the other forces. It is essential to understand our own setbacks critically in true context and further reconstruct.

” Is it the thought of creation and innovation being protected or the copying business advantage by the intellectual property rights provisions is the main concern as Executive Director mentions”.