Bio piracy and protection of traditional knowledge

1. CHENNAI
III Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
148-150, Luz Church Road,
Mylapore,
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 24984821
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers,
26-27, M G Road,
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 65462400
COIMBATORE
#1533, Trichy Road,
Coimbatore – 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 - 6552921
HYDERABAD
Flat No. A-701,
Brindavan Apartments,
Niloufer Hospital Road,
Redhills, Hyderabad - 500034.
Tel: +91 - 40 - 60506009
COCHIN
Suite 49, 8th Floor, Centre A,
Alapatt Heritage Building,
MG Road, Cochin – 682035
Tel: +91 - 484 - 6506216
EMAIL
info@altacit.com
WEBSITE
www.altacit.com
Topic For The Day
Bio-piracy and Protection of Traditional
Knowledge
By
Srishailan S. Rao

2. CHENNAI
III Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
148-150, Luz Church Road,
Mylapore,
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 24984821
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers,
26-27, M G Road,
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 65462400
COIMBATORE
#1533, Trichy Road,
Coimbatore – 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 - 6552921
HYDERABAD
Flat No. A-701,
Brindavan Apartments,
Niloufer Hospital Road,
Redhills, Hyderabad - 500034.
Tel: +91 - 40 - 60506009
COCHIN
Suite 49, 8th Floor, Centre A,
Alapatt Heritage Building,
MG Road, Cochin – 682035
Tel: +91 - 484 - 6506216
EMAIL
info@altacit.com
WEBSITE
www.altacit.com
Bio Piracy
• The practice of commercially exploiting
naturally occurring biochemical or genetic
material, especially by obtaining patents
that restrict its future use, while failing to
pay fair compensation to the community
from which it originates.
• In other words, Misappropriation of
Traditional Knowledge for the purpose of
seeking exclusive patent ownership over
that knowledge.

3. CHENNAI
III Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
148-150, Luz Church Road,
Mylapore,
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 24984821
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers,
26-27, M G Road,
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 65462400
COIMBATORE
#1533, Trichy Road,
Coimbatore – 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 - 6552921
HYDERABAD
Flat No. A-701,
Brindavan Apartments,
Niloufer Hospital Road,
Redhills, Hyderabad - 500034.
Tel: +91 - 40 - 60506009
COCHIN
Suite 49, 8th Floor, Centre A,
Alapatt Heritage Building,
MG Road, Cochin – 682035
Tel: +91 - 484 - 6506216
EMAIL
info@altacit.com
WEBSITE
www.altacit.com
Traditional Knowledge (TK)
• Traditional knowledge is the knowledge system
possessed by various communities across the
globe. Such knowledge has been accumulated
over the years and has been used and passed
down through several generations. It is usually
with respect to the natural surroundings of the
community and includes agricultural knowledge
such as manner of cultivation, environmental
knowledge and knowledge of natural medicines.

4. CHENNAI
III Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
148-150, Luz Church Road,
Mylapore,
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 24984821
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers,
26-27, M G Road,
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 65462400
COIMBATORE
#1533, Trichy Road,
Coimbatore – 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 - 6552921
HYDERABAD
Flat No. A-701,
Brindavan Apartments,
Niloufer Hospital Road,
Redhills, Hyderabad - 500034.
Tel: +91 - 40 - 60506009
COCHIN
Suite 49, 8th Floor, Centre A,
Alapatt Heritage Building,
MG Road, Cochin – 682035
Tel: +91 - 484 - 6506216
EMAIL
info@altacit.com
WEBSITE
www.altacit.com
TK
• It is an intangible component of the
resource itself. TK has the potential of
being transformed into commercial
opportunity, providing useful leads for
development of products and
processes.
• Hence, a share of benefits must
accrue to creators and holders of
Traditional Knowledge (TK).

5. CHENNAI
III Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
148-150, Luz Church Road,
Mylapore,
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 24984821
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers,
26-27, M G Road,
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 65462400
COIMBATORE
#1533, Trichy Road,
Coimbatore – 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 - 6552921
HYDERABAD
Flat No. A-701,
Brindavan Apartments,
Niloufer Hospital Road,
Redhills, Hyderabad - 500034.
Tel: +91 - 40 - 60506009
COCHIN
Suite 49, 8th Floor, Centre A,
Alapatt Heritage Building,
MG Road, Cochin – 682035
Tel: +91 - 484 - 6506216
EMAIL
info@altacit.com
WEBSITE
www.altacit.com
WHY SHOULD WE PROTECT
TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE?
• In the United Nations Convention on
Biological Diversity (1992), the Convention
reaffirmed the sovereign rights of States to
protect their biological resources. The
primary objective of the Convention was the
conservation of biological diversity,
sustainable use of the same and equitable
sharing of the benefits arising out of the use
of such biological resources.

6. CHENNAI
III Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
148-150, Luz Church Road,
Mylapore,
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 24984821
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers,
26-27, M G Road,
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 65462400
COIMBATORE
#1533, Trichy Road,
Coimbatore – 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 - 6552921
HYDERABAD
Flat No. A-701,
Brindavan Apartments,
Niloufer Hospital Road,
Redhills, Hyderabad - 500034.
Tel: +91 - 40 - 60506009
COCHIN
Suite 49, 8th Floor, Centre A,
Alapatt Heritage Building,
MG Road, Cochin – 682035
Tel: +91 - 484 - 6506216
EMAIL
info@altacit.com
WEBSITE
www.altacit.com
Position in India
• India is a party to the United Nations
Convention on Biological Diversity by virtue
of which it enacted the Biological Diversity
Act 2002. The Act aims at the conservation of
biological diversity, sustainable use of its
components and fair and equitable sharing of
the benefits that arise from the use of
biological resources. The Act provides for the
establishment of a National Biodiversity
Authority in order to protect the invaluable
treasure of Indian biodiversity.

7. CHENNAI
III Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
148-150, Luz Church Road,
Mylapore,
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 24984821
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers,
26-27, M G Road,
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 65462400
COIMBATORE
#1533, Trichy Road,
Coimbatore – 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 - 6552921
HYDERABAD
Flat No. A-701,
Brindavan Apartments,
Niloufer Hospital Road,
Redhills, Hyderabad - 500034.
Tel: +91 - 40 - 60506009
COCHIN
Suite 49, 8th Floor, Centre A,
Alapatt Heritage Building,
MG Road, Cochin – 682035
Tel: +91 - 484 - 6506216
EMAIL
info@altacit.com
WEBSITE
www.altacit.com
Turmeric Case
• In 1995, two Indian nationals at the
University of Mississippi Medical
Centre were granted US patent no.
5,401,504 on "use of turmeric in
wound healing".
• The Indian Council of Scientific and
Industrial Research (CSIR) requested
the US Patent and Trademark Office
(USPTO) to re-examine the patent.

8. CHENNAI
III Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
148-150, Luz Church Road,
Mylapore,
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 24984821
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers,
26-27, M G Road,
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 65462400
COIMBATORE
#1533, Trichy Road,
Coimbatore – 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 - 6552921
HYDERABAD
Flat No. A-701,
Brindavan Apartments,
Niloufer Hospital Road,
Redhills, Hyderabad - 500034.
Tel: +91 - 40 - 60506009
COCHIN
Suite 49, 8th Floor, Centre A,
Alapatt Heritage Building,
MG Road, Cochin – 682035
Tel: +91 - 484 - 6506216
EMAIL
info@altacit.com
WEBSITE
www.altacit.com
…Contd
• CSIR argued that turmeric has been used for
thousands of years for healing wounds and
rashes and therefore its medicinal use was not
novel.
• Their claim was supported by documentary
evidence of traditional knowledge, including an
ancient Sanskrit text and a paper published in
1953 in the Journal of the Indian Medical
Association.
• Despite arguments by the patentees, the
USPTO upheld the CSIR objections and revoked
the patent.

9. CHENNAI
III Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
148-150, Luz Church Road,
Mylapore,
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 24984821
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers,
26-27, M G Road,
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 65462400
COIMBATORE
#1533, Trichy Road,
Coimbatore – 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 - 6552921
HYDERABAD
Flat No. A-701,
Brindavan Apartments,
Niloufer Hospital Road,
Redhills, Hyderabad - 500034.
Tel: +91 - 40 - 60506009
COCHIN
Suite 49, 8th Floor, Centre A,
Alapatt Heritage Building,
MG Road, Cochin – 682035
Tel: +91 - 484 - 6506216
EMAIL
info@altacit.com
WEBSITE
www.altacit.com
Basmati Rice Case
• In late 1997, an American company
RiceTec Inc, was granted a patent by the
US patent office to call the aromatic rice
grown outside India “Basmati”. RiceTec
Inc, had been trying to enter the
International Basmati market with
brands like “Kasmati” and “Texmati”
described as Basmati-type rice with
minimal success.
• CSIR challenged the rice patent.

10. CHENNAI
III Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
148-150, Luz Church Road,
Mylapore,
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 24984821
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers,
26-27, M G Road,
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 65462400
COIMBATORE
#1533, Trichy Road,
Coimbatore – 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 - 6552921
HYDERABAD
Flat No. A-701,
Brindavan Apartments,
Niloufer Hospital Road,
Redhills, Hyderabad - 500034.
Tel: +91 - 40 - 60506009
COCHIN
Suite 49, 8th Floor, Centre A,
Alapatt Heritage Building,
MG Road, Cochin – 682035
Tel: +91 - 484 - 6506216
EMAIL
info@altacit.com
WEBSITE
www.altacit.com
...Contd
• After reexamination, the USPTO disallowed
all the physical characteristic claims.
• The Indian Government, a strong advocate
of geographical indications for food
products, claimed victory when the USPTO
limited the number of claims granted to
RiceTec.
• RiceTec still has a patent and can still call
its rice Basmati.

11. CHENNAI
III Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
148-150, Luz Church Road,
Mylapore,
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 24984821
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers,
26-27, M G Road,
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 65462400
COIMBATORE
#1533, Trichy Road,
Coimbatore – 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 - 6552921
HYDERABAD
Flat No. A-701,
Brindavan Apartments,
Niloufer Hospital Road,
Redhills, Hyderabad - 500034.
Tel: +91 - 40 - 60506009
COCHIN
Suite 49, 8th Floor, Centre A,
Alapatt Heritage Building,
MG Road, Cochin – 682035
Tel: +91 - 484 - 6506216
EMAIL
info@altacit.com
WEBSITE
www.altacit.com
Convention on Biodiversity
(CBD)
• Signed by 150 government leaders at
• the 1992 Rio Earth Summit.
• Came into force on 29 December
1993.
• India is also a party to the CBD.
• Secured rights to control access to
genetic resources for the countries in
which those resources are located.

12. CHENNAI
III Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
148-150, Luz Church Road,
Mylapore,
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 24984821
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers,
26-27, M G Road,
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 65462400
COIMBATORE
#1533, Trichy Road,
Coimbatore – 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 - 6552921
HYDERABAD
Flat No. A-701,
Brindavan Apartments,
Niloufer Hospital Road,
Redhills, Hyderabad - 500034.
Tel: +91 - 40 - 60506009
COCHIN
Suite 49, 8th Floor, Centre A,
Alapatt Heritage Building,
MG Road, Cochin – 682035
Tel: +91 - 484 - 6506216
EMAIL
info@altacit.com
WEBSITE
www.altacit.com
Main Objectives of CBD
• Conservation of biological
diversity.
• Sustainable use of the components
of biological diversity.
• Fair and equitable sharing of the
benefits arising out of the
utilization of genetic resources.

13. CHENNAI
III Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
148-150, Luz Church Road,
Mylapore,
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 24984821
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers,
26-27, M G Road,
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 65462400
COIMBATORE
#1533, Trichy Road,
Coimbatore – 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 - 6552921
HYDERABAD
Flat No. A-701,
Brindavan Apartments,
Niloufer Hospital Road,
Redhills, Hyderabad - 500034.
Tel: +91 - 40 - 60506009
COCHIN
Suite 49, 8th Floor, Centre A,
Alapatt Heritage Building,
MG Road, Cochin – 682035
Tel: +91 - 484 - 6506216
EMAIL
info@altacit.com
WEBSITE
www.altacit.com
What is TKDL??
• Traditional Knowledge Digital Library
(TKDL), is an electronic database which
provides information on traditional
knowledge existing in the country.
• TKDL acts a bridge between the
traditional knowledge information
existing in local languages and the
patent examiners at IPOs.

14. CHENNAI
III Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
148-150, Luz Church Road,
Mylapore,
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 24984821
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers,
26-27, M G Road,
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 65462400
COIMBATORE
#1533, Trichy Road,
Coimbatore – 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 - 6552921
HYDERABAD
Flat No. A-701,
Brindavan Apartments,
Niloufer Hospital Road,
Redhills, Hyderabad - 500034.
Tel: +91 - 40 - 60506009
COCHIN
Suite 49, 8th Floor, Centre A,
Alapatt Heritage Building,
MG Road, Cochin – 682035
Tel: +91 - 484 - 6506216
EMAIL
info@altacit.com
WEBSITE
www.altacit.com
TKDL Outcome Against
Biopiracy
GINGER CASE:
• British Pharma firm filed for patent in 2006
for pharmaceutical composition using ginger,
claiming it discovered use of ginger and kutki
plant in treatment of cold.
• India cited medicinal texts dating back to the
18th century on use of ginger to treat cough,
asthma & lung diseases using TKDL database.
• British patent office accepts Indian evidence,
rejectsapplication 5 years later.

15. CHENNAI
III Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
148-150, Luz Church Road,
Mylapore,
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 24984821
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers,
26-27, M G Road,
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 65462400
COIMBATORE
#1533, Trichy Road,
Coimbatore – 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 - 6552921
HYDERABAD
Flat No. A-701,
Brindavan Apartments,
Niloufer Hospital Road,
Redhills, Hyderabad - 500034.
Tel: +91 - 40 - 60506009
COCHIN
Suite 49, 8th Floor, Centre A,
Alapatt Heritage Building,
MG Road, Cochin – 682035
Tel: +91 - 484 - 6506216
EMAIL
info@altacit.com
WEBSITE
www.altacit.com