INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND ITS IMPACT ON SAFEGUARDING INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE: A COMPARATIVE STUDY BETWEEN HAND WEAVING IN AKHMIM (EGYPT) AND POCHAMPALLY (INDIA).

Refaat, Hassan; Hassan, Nayira

doi:10.21608/jguaa2.2024.189833.1151

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND ITS IMPACT ON SAFEGUARDING INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE: A COMPARATIVE STUDY BETWEEN HAND WEAVING IN AKHMIM (EGYPT) AND POCHAMPALLY (INDIA).

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Hassan Refaat ¹
Nayira Hassan ²

¹ Lecturer at Tourism Guidance Department, Faculty of Tourism and Hotels, Luxor University, Egypt

² PhD Candidate, Faculty of Tourism and Hotels, Helwan University, Egypt

10.21608/jguaa2.2024.189833.1151

Abstract

Abstract
الملكية الفكرية وآثرها في الحفاظ على التراث الثقافي غير المادي: دراسة مقارنة بين حرفة النسيج اليدوي بأخميم مصر وبوشامبالي الهند[Ar]
تعتبر الحرف اليدوية التقليدية أحد عناصر التراث الثقافى غير المادي وفقًا لاتفاقية اليونسكو لعام 2003 مما تتطلب العمل على الحفاظ عليها وصونها . يهدف البحث من خلال استخدام المنهج الوصفي التحليلى إلى تحليل الدور الذي يمكن أن تلعبه إداوت الملكية الفكرية في صون وحماية حرفة النسيج اليدوي، وذلك من خلال اجراء دراسة مقارنة بين أخميم (مصر) ومدينة بوشامبالي (الهند) حيث تشتهر كلا منها بحرفة النسيج اليدوى. أظهرت النتائج أن أدوات الملكية الفكرية قد لعبت دورًا هاما للغاية في صون واستدامة حرفة النسيج اليدوي بمدينة بوشامبالى بالهند، كما أشارت النتائج إلى الدور الهام الذى يمكن لأدوات الملكية الفكرية أن تلعبه في صون واستدامة حرفة النسيج اليدوى فى مصر عامة وأخميم بصورة خاصة، حيث اوضحت الدراسة أن هناك تسع مجالات رئيسية مرتبطة بحرفة النسيج اليديو يمكن لأدوات الملكية الفكرية تطويرها وتحويلها من نقاط ضعف إلى نقاط القوة، مما سوف يؤثر بشكل إيجابي على حماية وصون حرفة النسيج اليدوي بأخميم. تم تصنيف هذه المجالات التسع إلى ثلاث مجموعات رئيسيه المجموعة الأولى وهى تلك المرتبطة بالمنتج، أما المجموعة الثانية فتضم تلك المجالات المتعلقة بالحرفيين،أما المجموعة الثالثة فهى تلك المرتبطة بالعملاء.
[En]Traditional crafts are one of the elements of intangible cultural heritage that all countries of the world seek to preserve and protect and Being currently enlisted in the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding, the traditional hand weaving in southern Egypt faces the danger of extinction. This article aims to explore the potential impact of Intellectual Property (IP) in safeguarding the traditional hand weaving in Akhmim and elevating its status from the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding into the representative list. To achieve this objective, a comparative study was conducted between Akhmim city in Egypt and Pochampally village in India, considering their shared cultural heritage but different approaches in utilizing IP tools to preserve their respective weaving traditions. Intellectual Property (IP) tools have been effectively utilized in Pochampally to safeguard their traditional hand weaving, whereas in Akhmim, the utilization of such tools has been lacking. The study employed a qualitative research approach by conducting four semi-structured interviews with four Egyptian experts from public, private, and non-governmental organizations, all focused on the sustainable development of Egyptian handicraft clusters. The study revealed that traditional hand weaving in Akhmim is significantly underperforming, leading to its inclusion in the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding. Previous interventions by international and local organizations primarily focused on product quality enhancement and diversification, overlooking the crucial role that IP tools can play in safeguarding Akhmim's traditional hand weaving.Furthermore, the study highlighted that making full use of IP tools is the most needed intervention for the safeguarding of Akhmim's traditional hand weaving at this time. It emphasized that IP tools can turn the main challenges faced by Akhmim hand-weavers into opportunities for growth. The study identified nine areas where IP tools can play a significant role in the development of traditional hand-weaving. These areas were classified into three main themes: product-related, craftsmen-related, and customer-related.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Heritage

References

Abdelaziz, F., El-Enbaby, H., Zhang, X. & Breisinger, C.: «Clusters as Drivers of Local Industrial Development in Egypt. Which are the Promising Sectors and Locations?» MENA RP Working Paper, Nº.10, Cairo (Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)) 2018.

All India Artisans and Craft workers Welfare Association (AIACA), toolkit for sustainable textile for sustainable development, 2009.

Bhat, I.H. & Singh, D.S.: »A Study on Branding of Handicraft through Geographic Indication with Reference to Kashmir«, International Journal of Business and Management Research 7/3, 2019, 14–17.

Elgammal, I. & Refaat, H.: »Intangible Heritage as a Tool of Promoting Sustainable Tourism: The Case of Hand-Weaving in Akhmim, Egypt«. In L. Marchegiani(ed.), International conference on sustainable cultural heritage management, Rome, 10-12 October, 2013, 393-406.

Global Brand Database. http://bit.ly/41HTfHB, Accessed on (24/12/ 2023).

Global Entrepreneurship Summit, Pochampally IKAT the Soul of the Ethnic Fabric, 2017.

Gopalakrishnan, N., Prabha Nair & Aravind, B.: »Exploring the Relationship Between Geographical Indications and Traditional Knowledge« RePEc: Research Papers in Economics, 2017.

Hann, M. & Thomas, B.: Patterns of Culture Decorative Weaving Techniqu, Leeds (University of Leeds) 2005.

Xiaotian Hu & Xiaopeng, Yin.: »Do Stronger Intellectual Property Rights Protections Raise Productivity within the Context of Trade Liberalization? Evidence from China«, Economic Modelling 110, 2022.

International Trade Centre & WIPO.: Marketing Crafts and Visual Arts: The Role of Intellectual Property a practical guide, Switzerland, 2003.

Soliman, A.M.: Egyptian Handicrafts Clusters: Barriers to Development & Suggested Policy Reforms, Cairo (AUC) 2022.

Rout, T.K.: GI as an instrument for sustainable development: a case of Pochampally ikat, 2012, https://textilevaluechain.in/in-depth-analysis/articles/traditional-textiles/gi-as-an-instrument-for-sustainable-development-a-case-of-pochampally-ikat/, Accessed on (2/4/2023).

Savithri, G. & Kumar, C.: »Pochampally – an Unique Silk Handloom Cluster«, International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Development 1/7, 2014, 418-421.

The Government of Sohag: Qaryat Elnasyg, unpublished report, 2013.

Todd, M. P.: Hand-Loom Weaving: A Manual for School and Home, New York, 1902.

Torsen, M. & Anderson, J.: Intellectual Property and the Safeguarding of Traditional Cultures, World Intellectual Property Organization, 2010.

Unctad.: Creative Economy Report, 2010.

Unesco.: «Handmade weaving in Upper Egypt (Sa’eed)», https://ich.unesco.org/en/ USL/handmade-weaving-in-upper-egypt-sa-eed-01605 Accessed on (2/4/2023).

UNESCO World Heritage Centre.: «Iconic Saree Weaving Clusters of India». Https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/5890/, Accessed on (2/4/2023).

Unesco.: Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural, 2003.

Unwto.: «Pochampally Tourism Village», https:// www. unwto. org/ tourism-villages/ en/villages/pochampally/, Accessed on (2/4/2023).

Gouri, V.: «Pochampally Handloom Weavers in Distress: A Study in Koyyalagudem Village of Nalgonda District«, Indian Journal of Social Research (IJSR) 58/4, 2017, 475-494.

Wipo.: WIPO Intellectual Property Handbook, 2^nd (ed.), 2004.

Wipo.: Making a Mark: An Introduction to Trademarks for Small and Medium sized Enterprises, 2006.

Wipo.: Intellectual Property and Traditional Handicrafts, 2016.

Wipo.: Understanding Industrial Property, 2016.

Wipo.: «Geographical Indications». Www.wipo.int/geo_indications/en/, Accessed on (2/4/2023)

Wipo.: Geographical Indication and Introduction, 2021.