EPO Gets Access to India's Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL)
The ambitious traditional knowledge digital library (TKDL), successfully completed by CSIR (under VK Gupta's stewardship) is now accessible to the EPO, thanks to an agreement signed recently between the Indian government and the EPO. Radhika Pandeiya and Jacob Koshy of The Mint broke this story (online) today, including myriad comments on what this means for India in terms of the much bandied about TK misappropriation debates (turmeric patenting etc). And what ought to the future policy direction in relation to this database and its potential access to non governmental entities.Here are some excerpts from their story titled "Ginger can’t be patented in Europe now" "India’s traditional knowledge—such as medicinal properties of neem and turmeric—could now become more difficult to patent for drug makers in Europe. The European Patent Office, or EPO, will consult an Indian database that lists traditionally known drug formulations before granting patent rights. The Counci...