Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL)

Background

Set up in 2001 by CSIR and the Department of AYUSH, the Traditional Knowledge Digital Library transcribes formulations from classical texts of Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, Sowa Rigpa and yoga into English, French, German, Japanese and Spanish, in a structured form that patent examiners can search.

Significance

Regarded as the first database of its kind. It is shared with patent offices under non-disclosure access agreements, the first signed with the European Patent Office in 2009.

Meanwhile in the West

Created in direct response to Western patents on turmeric, neem and basmati.

Fair to say

The modern institutional answer to biopiracy — India's own solution.

Path to modern innovation

Prevents future misappropriation of traditional knowledge as 'novel' inventions.

Builds on

• 1994Neem fungicide patent (revoked)
• 1995Turmeric wound-healing patent (revoked)
• 1997Basmati rice patent (mostly struck down)

Global impact

• Access agreements with patent offices including those of the European Patent Office, the United States, Japan and the United Kingdom.
• CSIR reports that hundreds of patent applications drawing on Indian traditional knowledge have been withdrawn or rejected after TKDL evidence was filed.

Transmission

Now used as prior art by patent offices worldwide.

References

• 1CSIR/TKDL
• 2WIPO documentation

Further reading

• 3Wikipedia: Traditional Knowledge Digital Library

Related

India's biodiversity and farmers'-rights laws