The more I think of the whole thing the more I become convinced that we need to get the support of some piece of legislation that will make it impossible for outsiders to use the term Benarasi Brocade but will at the same time allow genuine weavers from Varanasi to use it. Arousing public opinion is a good first step but we need to go further. As far as I can see the patent route will not be helpful. In whose name will you take the patent? It can't be in the name of all Varanasi weavers. If it is in one name can the other weavers benefit from it? Can you patent an art form as opposed to a product? Maybe it's possible but I can see it as being a bit messy.

Instead can we consider a kind of registration method? What I have in mind is the Appelation Controllee technique the French follow. Anyone can make sparkling wine but no-one otside the district can call it Champagne. Anyone can make brandy but only those in that area can call it Cognac. So to put it simply, the French have identified a generic product, produced in a specific area with a name that is recognised throughout the world, and insisted that no-one outside that area can use the name in question. Much the same applies here. Obviously the name Banarasi Brocade is sufficiently well known to attract copy cats. So our aim should be to see that even if those outside the area can make look alike products (and they will copy the techniques used in Varanasi because they're good) they can't call it by the name that we use. You can't stop people from making a particular product. The French experience is relevant here. They couldn't prevent the whole world from producing cheese, wine, brandy etc. even though we grew up believing that these were the divinely inspired prerogatives of France. But the French have protected the household names that gave these products their unique flavor.

We could also devise some little logo or trade mark, some unique identifying mechanism and put it in the selvedge of the product to be protected. When you see that symbol you'll know you've bought the genuine article. Then we could take legal action against anyone using it unauthorized.