India is in talks with the US and various other countries to grant access to its database of Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL), media reports have indicated. The aim is to curb bio-piracy – the granting of ‘wrong’ patents – of Indian medicinal plants across the world. In February 2009, India had opened up TKDL to the European Patent Office (EPO) so that existing indigenous knowledge is not patented elsewhere.
Negotiations with the US Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) are in the final stages. Other nations including China and Japan are also holding talks, the reports state quoting sources in the National Institute of Science Communication and Informative Resources (NISCAIR).
It has been observed that the setting up of the TKDL has effectively curbed the grant of wrong patents. A 2000 study by the TKDL task force had found that nearly 4,896 patent references were made on medicinal plants at a global level. This number had shot up to 15,000 in 2003 and more than 35,000 in 2005. India successfully fought wrong patents granted on turmeric and basmati rice by the PTO as well as on neem by the EPO. However, as this was found to be time-consuming and expensive, the TKDL was created.
TDKL, a joint venture between NISCAIR and the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, covers prior art for about 204,000 formulations, and these are further transcribed in five international languages. The database covers about 54 textbooks on Ayurvedic medicine and around 150,000 Ayurveda, Unani and Siddha formulations. Over 1,500 physical exercises and yoga postures – nearly 5,000 years old – are also covered.
Various other nations are also compiling similar databases and sharing them to prevent bio-piracy. Last year, China allowed the EPO access to its database on traditional medicine which contains nearly 32,000 entries.
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