The scramble to patent traditional knowledge should be halted

THERE are growing worries about American "cultural imperialism" and piracy of Indian traditional knowledge such as neem, turmeric and basmati rice through US patent laws that do not adequately protect such intellectual property.

Recent research articles are shining new light on American "economic power" that pressures India to surrender its economic sovereignty.

One of their recommendations is that the World Trade Organization (WTO) should create an agreement that enforces protection of all types of traditional knowledge. Author Daanyaal R Kumar's article "United States Patents, Biopiracy and Cultural Imperialism: The Theft of India's Cultural Knowledge", published in the Inquiries Journal in 2019, argues that "they (WTO) can do this by mandating that traditional knowledge is intellectual property and cannot be stolen and used".