INDIA AGAINST PATENT LAWS NOT BENEFICIAL TO HUMANITY - DR JOSHI
India is against
patent laws that are not beneficial to humanity as a whole. In
fact all precautions must be taken to protect the patent rights
of the developing world. Despite being party to TRIPs, India will
not allow anything that will affect the interests of the majority
of the world population, said Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi, Minister
for Human Resource Development and Science and Technology, while
chairing a high level meeting here over the weekend to suggest
modifications in the patent bill to make the new act, strong and
fool-proof.
Suggesting abundant
caution while dealing with patents, especially in relation to
Multi-Nationals, Dr. Joshi described them of being over-exploitative.
Hence he said extra caution must be taken to see that no loopholes
are left. He also told the meeting to keep in mind, the differences
in US and Indian perceptions on patent laws.
The Minister told
the meeting that for India Micro-organisams offer largest chances
for diverse activities. Hence, the focus should be on tightening
patent laws concerning Biotechnology, Agriculture and pharmaceuticals.
Since the chances of unforeseen circumstances are high in this
area, due thought must be given while making modifications to
the patent Act 1970. The new act needs to be in place before 2005,
in view of globalisation and changed world economic scenario.
Dr. Joshi made it clear that no scope should be left for any abuse
and the new act should be protecting the interests of India in
particular and humanity at large.
The meeting was attended
among others by the Secretaries of the departments of Science
and Technology, Bio-technology, DSIR and representatives from
Ministries of Commerce, IT, HRD, etc.
