research

1. 1
Research proposal
Title
<Centric towards the research problem and premise of your study>
Submitted by,
<Name>
<Roll Number>
<Inter University Centre for IPR studies >
<Cochin University of Science and Technology>
INSTRUCTIONS – PLEASE DELETE THIS BEFORE SUBMISSION
 Your proposal must be 11-15 pages, no less, no more. The total word count therefore
should be about 5000 words.
 You must follow this template strictly
 You must use an 11 or 12 point Times New Roman
 You must use the standard margins as setup in this document
 You must use 1.5 spacing
 Where the template has a title in <<TITLE>> format, replace the text entirely with your
information
 Use the seven styles Heading 1 sections below.

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<this page is specifically for abstract of your work>
ABSTRACT
<The abstract is a brief summary of your Research Proposal, and should be no longer
than 300 words. It starts by describing in a few words the knowledge domain where your
research takes place and the key issues of that domain that offer opportunities for the
scientific or technological innovations you intend to explore. Taking those key issues as a
background, you then present briefly your research statement, your proposed research
approach, the results you expect to achieve, and the anticipated implications of such
results.>
(Abstract includes)
Background
Methods
Results
Discussion and Conclusion
Do not use abbreviations or insert tables, figures or references into your abstract. You abstract
generally should not exceed about 300 words.
Introduction
<give an outline of the premise that you raer going to study
Background (Heading 2)
(Use Heading 2 from the selection of styles on the menu bar above. Do NOT use all
capitals, but write as is shown above. Do not use anything else as the Table of Contents
has been automated to include this style for a subheading.)
This section should provide the critical argument that underpins the objectives of your
research by describing:

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What is the scholarly context or theoretical background of the problem you are studying?
Where are the knowledge gaps and why are they important?
How will your work extend and add to the work that has been published already?
What are your research questions/hypotheses?
For PhDs with creative works/non-traditional research outputs: What is the body of
knowledge to which your creative work will bring insight? Why is this practice and
scholarship significant? What theory or scholarship will you draw on to understand your
creative work/processes and/or to situate your work in a wider community of creative
practice? How do the research questions inform the creative practice?
For PhDs using arts-based research methods in social science or related humanities
research, it is less important to reflect on your work in relation to a community of arts
practice. Instead you must explain how and why art as mode of enquiry will further your
research, noting how particular aesthetic and expressive modes that reach beyond the
conventions of academic writing will allow for new kinds of approaches to, and insights
into, the topic under investigation.
The language of project proposals differs across disciplines. Some proposals may use
aims (or goals) and objectives, some use research questions, others use hypotheses.
Use the vocabulary that is accepted in your discipline. Consult with your Advisory Panel.
The objectives form the basis for the activities of the project and also serve as the basis
for evaluating the project at your Confirmation of Candidature.
DSI under CBD: Issues and Concerns
AHTEG and On-going Negotiation in CBD
Statement of Problem
Objectives of Research
Research Questions
1. What is Digital Sequence Information and its role in research and innovations?

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a) What is “Digital sequence information”?
b) What are the uses of DSI with respect to genetic resources and associated
scientific research?
c) What are the functioning and status of DSI databases?
d) What is the role of DSI databases in research and innovation?
2. What is biopiracy in the context of DSI?
a) What is biopiracy in digital context?
b) How biopiracy occurs with the use of DSI in the areas of synthetic biology,
pharmaceuticals and agriculture?
c) Are the existing provisions of CBD, national biodiversity laws and patent laws
are adequate in identifying and mandating the source of DSI?
d) Whether the mandatory disclosure of country of origin of genetic resource in the
open databases and patent applications for DSI be implemented?
3. Do the existing international legal regimes, especially CBD and Nagoya protocol,
adequately address the issues with regard to the access and benefit sharing in the use of
DSI?
a) What are the access and benefit sharing issues arising out of the unregulated use
of DSI under the CBD mechanism?
b) What are the monitoring and compliance issues specific to DSI?
c) What are the limitations in CBD in the regulation of DSI? Does it need express
provisions of DSI?
d) How does the other international law frameworks international organizations such
as WHO-PIP Framework, UNCLOS, ITPGRFA, WIPO-IGC on TK and Folklore
address the issues relating to unauthorized use of DSI?
4. What are the domestic measures adopted by select domestic legal systems ( Brazil,
Costa Rica, Australia, South Africa and India ) and are they effective in regulating the
use of DSI and ensuring ABS?
a) What are the regulatory mechanism in the select domestic legal systems
addressing the issues of the unauthorized use of DSI?
b) What are the implementation and enforcement issues arising out of the

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unregulated use of DSI in the select domestic legal systems?
5. What are the issues identified and addressed in the ongoing negotiations in CBD and
Nagoya protocol on access and benefit sharing in the use of DSI?
a) What are the identified issues in the ongoing negotiations on the access and
benefit sharing in the context DSI under CBD?
i. Whether DSI could claim the same ABS mechanisms of physical genetic
resources?
ii. What are the issues of Benefit sharing arrangements from commercial
and non commercial use of DSI?
iii. How to trace commercialization for the use of DSI?
b) What are the positions of the contracting parties in these negotiations, especially
developing countries, with regard to monitoring and compliance of DSI?
c) What are the practical implications of regulation of open databases of DSI?
d) What are the policy options that could address the access and benefit sharing
problems envisaged through COP 15 of CBD?
6. What could be a viable model of a regulatory mechanism for the use DSI that could
ensure a fair and equitable benefit sharing and ensure the access of information for
research and development?
a) What should be the parameters to be considered in the formulation of a
regulatory mechanism which will effectively solve the access and benefit
sharing issues associated with DSI within a multilateral system?
b) Is there a requirement of a sui generis regulatory system capable of covering
the IP issues associated with DSI and biopiracy?
Hypothesis
1. The existing international and domestic legal systems are not adequate and
effective in prevention of digital biopiracy and ensuring access and benefit sharing
of digital sequence information.
2. The effective prevention of digital biopiracy will either require widening the scope
of CBD to expressly include and regulate DSI or through a sui generis system.

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Research Methodology
Chapterization
Chapter 1 - Introduction
.
Chapter 2 - Digital biopiracy and DSI
Chapter 3 - Limitations of the existing international regulatory mechanisms, especially
CBD for the ABS in the context of DSI
Chapter 4 -Comparative analysis of select domestic regulatory mechanisms (Brazil, Costa
Rica, Australia, South Africa and India)
Chapter 5 -Introduction of DSI into CBD system : Negotiation scope and challenges.
Chapter 6 - Conclusion and suggestions
Bibliography
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Judgements