WIPO GRANTS RECOGNITION
TO IMT CHANDIGARH AS INTERNATIONAL DEPOSITORY AUTHORITY FOR MICROORGANIMS
The World Intellectual
Property Organisation has granted global recognition to the Microbial
Type Culture Collection Centre at the Institute of Microbial Technology,
Chandigarh as an International Depository Authority for the deposition
of microorganisms. The recognition has been granted under the
Budapest Treaty to which India submitted the instrument of accession
in September last.
This is an important
step taken by India after its accession to the Patent Cooperation
Treaty in 1998 and signing of the WTO agreement in 1994. These
together will provide safeguards to patents under the intellectual
property right regulations.
Grant of patent requires
disclosure of the invention and the inventions linked with the
microorganisms along with full description of the organism and
its characteristics, properties and traits. For this, safe deposit
in an international depository authority approved by the WIPO
becomes essential. The safe deposit will provide scientists not
only protection to their patents, but also reduction in patenting
costs and lessening of bio-safety risks during transfer. Neighbouring
countries can also take advantage of the Depository Authority
in India.
The Department of
Biotechnology (DBT) and the Council of Scientific and Industrial
Research (CSIR) who took the initiatives to secure WIPO recognition
will continue to play a major role in the preservation of microorganisms
of the country, highly relevant in the management of industry
and environment. The microorganisms deposited in the Authority
will be maintained for at least 30 years under the provisions
of the Budapest Treaty.