Discussions over intellectual property rights are not just restricted to our textbooks but spill over to the kind of music we listen to,the medicines we intake and much much more. However, it cannot be denied that discussions around IP have been somewhat confined to the academic, legal and policy circles, navigating our mind frames like giant smoke rings from formidable cheroots of erstwhile colonial English Lords. These formidable cheroots are the technical language that shrouds IP rights (not always the pompous quips just to make the IPR seem important enough!). This often makes IPR inaccessible to the very ones who create as well as consume such inventions and expressions, such as the creators, entrepreneurs, small businesses, and the general public.
Image generated by DALL-E.
There is no reason such discussion be limited to a chosen few. Part of what we would like to encourage at SpicyIP, is the democratization of the IP discourse making it more accessible and effectively disseminated to the wider public. One way we thought this could be done is through encouraging vernacular publications!
This effort is not about simplification but also about inclusion. In a country as vast as ours, both regionally and linguistically, English as a language excludes a vast number of people who are often the stakeholders in these debates. By expanding beyond English, we strive to elbow into the existing circles and empower more individuals as well as businesses. It is imperative to understand that awareness is the first step towards empowerment, which accord the people an understanding of their rights of both creation as well as use and consumption.
The aim of the awareness is to reach more and more citizens present and future and help their navigation towards clear information of the IP issues. This in turn bolsters their efforts to make informed decisions and counter unjust policies when required. As part of this initiative, I am excited to share with you my recent piece in Bengali, on the Role of Expert Evidence in IP Litigation (Published on 11th February, 2025, Newspaper “Ekdin”, Read it here).
If you’re interested in IP, can write in a regional language and want to contribute, we welcome more voices that can make IP discussions clearer, sharper, and more relevant to everyday realities. Let’s work together to open up these important discussions and bring IP out of the legal textbooks and into everyday conversations. If you want to contribute but aren’t sure how, do reach out via email or in the comments below. Where we’re able to, we’re happy to help refine ideas, writing processes, and language where possible, as well as general feedback etc.