GOA: The Eurasian Patent Organisation (EAPO), an international intergovernmental organisation of the Eurasian Patent Convention, Moscow, and the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) haveentered into a cooperation on the Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL) Access through a nondisclosure agreement.
The agreement was exchanged by GrigoryIvliev, President, Eurasian Patent Office, EPO, Moscow and Viswajanani J Sattigeri, Scientist-H and Head, CSIR-TKDL unit in Goa recently on the sidelines of the Global Intellectual Property Convention (GIPC) 2023.
Through this agreement, the EAPO shall gain access to the contents of the TKDL database for the purpose of search and examination of prior art related to Indian traditional knowledge in patent applications, for the purposes of grant of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR). With this cooperation with EAPO, the number of patent offices worldwide that have access to the TKDL database rises to sixteen.
The contracting states of the Eurasian Patent Convention include Eurasian Patent Office, Turkmenistan, Republic of Belarus, Republic of Tajikistan, Russian Federation, Republic of Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan Republic, Kyrgyz Republic, and the Republic of Armenia.
The TKDL is a global benchmark in the defensive protection of traditional knowledge and has been successful in protecting India’s interest against any possible misappropriation of its heritage. Recently, the Cabinetapproved widening of the access of the TKDL to users, beyond patent offices to stimulate R&D and innovation based on Indian traditional knowledge.
