The Cabinet approved the draft intellectual property rights (IPRs) policy aimed at protecting traditional knowledge and inventions.The policy states that the government will ensure protection of the rights of people possessing traditional knowledge and inventions. Prior permission from the State Biodiversity Board will be required for outsiders to make use of traditional knowledge and inventions. Permit from the Board will also be mandatory for trade in bio resources except those related to traditional uses. The Board will compile details of traditional knowledge and bio resources of the State. Access to the database will require permission from the Board. It will assist people in getting patents for their inventions. There will be restrictions on outsourcing research related to biological resources from Kerala.The policy proposes legislation to protect the intellectual property rights of people possessing traditional knowledge. Punitary provisions will be incorporated for enforcement of the policy. There will also be a supervisory council with Chief Minister as chairman and the Law Minister as vice-chairman to oversee implementation of the policy.Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan told mediapersons after the Cabinet meeting that Kerala would be the first State to adopt a policy on intellectual property rights.
The Hindu, June 2, 2008
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