January 22, 2002

   India has called for protecting the rights of holders of indigenous knowledge, in view of increasing improper exploitation, particularly, for commercial purposes. This is all the more necessary, for developing countries as they need to preserve traditional knowledge from uses that negatively affect the life and culture of communities. The Minister of State for Human Resource Development, Prof. Rita Verma made the call while addressing an international forum on Intellectual Property and traditional knowledge for identity of future, in Muscat, Oman today. The Forum is being attended by Ministers of Education, Commerce and Industry from 40 countries.

    Prof. Verma who is heading the Indian delegation also outlined various initiatives taken by India for the protection of traditional knowledge, after becoming a signatory to the Convention on Biological Diversity. Referring to the existing Intellectual Property systems which are oriented towards the concept of private ownership and individual innovations, she said, these concepts are at odd with indigenous cultures which emphasise collective creation and ownership of knowledge.

    Prof. Rita Verma pointed out that the new millennium has posed serious challenges to the international community in tackling the problem of Intellectual Property especially in traditional knowledge, as a consequence of globalisation and technological developments. She said, it is threatening appropriation of collective wisdom of societies into proprietary knowledge for the commercial profit of a few. In this connection, she appreciated the initiative taken by the World Intellectual Property Organisation in creating awareness at the international level on Intellectual Property Rights relating to traditional knowledge.

    Prof. Verma also chaired a technical session.