Feature Articles:

Higit sa DNA: Mga Ngipin, sekreto ng mga Forensic Expert sa pagkilala sa mga nasawi

Sa gitna ng malagim na trahedya, isang hindi inaasahang...

Karamihan ng mga Pilipino, naniniwalang magwawakas ang korapsyon sa tulong ng blockchain – Survey

Ayon sa isang bagong survey, karamihan sa mga Pilipino...

“HINDI NA NILA MALOLOKO ANG TAUMBAYAN: CenPEG, binuksan ang katotohanan sa ‘Political Theater’ ng Kongreso!”

Mariing tinutukan ng isang non-government organization ang mainit na...

IPOPHL gains access to India’s traditional knowledge library

Janina Lim, Information Officer III, Intellectual Property Office

The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) has signed an agreement with the Republic of India’s Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) to access the latter’s Traditional Knowledge (TK) Digital Library (TKDL) that would allow IPOPHL’s patent examiners access to India’s ancient and traditional knowledge in aid of examination—as well as enable the Philippines to learn how to establish its own TK database and prevent the misappropriation of its culture.

The Philippine Mission to New Delhi’s H.E. Ambassador Josel Francisco Ignacio and Third Secretary/Vice Consul Melissa Anne Telan attended the ceremonial agreement exchange—serving as representatives to IPOPHL—and met with TK Digital Library Unit Head Viswajanani Sattigeri during the CSIR’s Silver Jubilee Celebrations of the TKDL held on January 24, 2025 in New Delhi.

Set up in 2001, the TKDL is a prior-art database of Indian traditional knowledge (TK) boasting about 515,000 Indian formulations and practices that are translated to five languages—English, Japanese, Spanish, French and German. It is primarily focused on medicinal plants and formulations used in ancient wellness and healing systems, such as the Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, Yoga and Sowa Rigpa, but it also contains traditional agricultural and metallurgical knowledge.

The TKDL was made to prevent the erroneous granting of patents on traditional Indian knowledge and promote modern research based on TK.

Access to the TKDL is free for patent offices and institutions that enter into an agreement with the CSIR. The Philippines is the 17th intellectual property office that has access to the TKDL, joining the likes of the European Patent Office, the Japan Patent Office and the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

“Our agreement shows IPOPHL’s strong thrust to prevent biopiracy across the world and protect traditional systems of indigenous communities,” IPOPHL Officer-in-Charge Nathaniel S. Arevalo said.

The database, he said, also serves as “an invaluable resource that creates an opportunity for the Philippines to document and safeguard its own TK.”

“By learning from India’s experience in creating, growing and maintaining its database, the Philippines can create a robust mechanism to protect its traditional knowledge and preserve its cultural heritage while fostering scientific progress,” Arevalo added.

Bureau of Patents Director Ann N. Edillon said the database could also be made accessible by the CSIR to Philippine research institutions upon request, providing them information that could inspire the generation of new technologies.

“This will allow research institutions to access and utilize valuable information, combining old knowledge to develop new medicines, therapies and innovations,” Edillon said.

The Philippines is currently in the works of formalizing its status as a Contracting Party under the World Intellectual Property Organization’s Treaty on IP, Genetic Resources (GR) and Associated TK—a treaty which the country strongly supported.

Adopted by consensus in May 2024, the treaty aims to establish in international law a new disclosure requirement for patent applicants whose inventions are based on GR and its associated TK to prevent misappropriation.#

Latest

Higit sa DNA: Mga Ngipin, sekreto ng mga Forensic Expert sa pagkilala sa mga nasawi

Sa gitna ng malagim na trahedya, isang hindi inaasahang...

Karamihan ng mga Pilipino, naniniwalang magwawakas ang korapsyon sa tulong ng blockchain – Survey

Ayon sa isang bagong survey, karamihan sa mga Pilipino...

“HINDI NA NILA MALOLOKO ANG TAUMBAYAN: CenPEG, binuksan ang katotohanan sa ‘Political Theater’ ng Kongreso!”

Mariing tinutukan ng isang non-government organization ang mainit na...

Gomez sets record straight, Forces apology from misinformed critics

Congressman Gomez Apologizes, Defends Flood Control Project Amid ControversyIn...

Newsletter

spot_img
spot_img

Don't miss

Higit sa DNA: Mga Ngipin, sekreto ng mga Forensic Expert sa pagkilala sa mga nasawi

Sa gitna ng malagim na trahedya, isang hindi inaasahang...

Karamihan ng mga Pilipino, naniniwalang magwawakas ang korapsyon sa tulong ng blockchain – Survey

Ayon sa isang bagong survey, karamihan sa mga Pilipino...

“HINDI NA NILA MALOLOKO ANG TAUMBAYAN: CenPEG, binuksan ang katotohanan sa ‘Political Theater’ ng Kongreso!”

Mariing tinutukan ng isang non-government organization ang mainit na...

Gomez sets record straight, Forces apology from misinformed critics

Congressman Gomez Apologizes, Defends Flood Control Project Amid ControversyIn...

Mga estudyante ng disenyo, nagbigay ng bagong kahulugan sa espasyong Paskuwa

Sa Pilipinas, nagsisimula na ang Pasko sa pagpasok ng...
spot_imgspot_img

Higit sa DNA: Mga Ngipin, sekreto ng mga Forensic Expert sa pagkilala sa mga nasawi

Sa gitna ng malagim na trahedya, isang hindi inaasahang bayani ang lumalabas upang bigyan ng pangalan at kapayapaan ang mga biktima: ang forensic dentist. Nang...

Karamihan ng mga Pilipino, naniniwalang magwawakas ang korapsyon sa tulong ng blockchain – Survey

Ayon sa isang bagong survey, karamihan sa mga Pilipino ay naniniwala na ang teknolohiyang blockchain ang susi upang wakasan ang korapsyon sa bansa, at...

“HINDI NA NILA MALOLOKO ANG TAUMBAYAN: CenPEG, binuksan ang katotohanan sa ‘Political Theater’ ng Kongreso!”

Mariing tinutukan ng isang non-government organization ang mainit na pagtataluhan ng Senado at House of Representatives kaugnay ng mga paratangang korapsyon, at iginiit na...