Shreya Sambhvi

These cases illustrate the tension between patent protection, traditional knowledge, and equitable ownership of biodiversity. Case Study 1: The Turmeric Patent The Turmeric Patent remains one of the most influential examples of traditional knowledge serving as prior art within the patent system. In 1995, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) granted U.S. Patent No. 5,401,504 for the use of turmeric in wound healing. The patent was subsequently challenged by India's Council of...

Understanding Biodiversity and the Rise of Biopiracy Can naturally occurring biological resources be patented? Who owns the knowledge that Indigenous communities have preserved for centuries? And where should the law draw the line between discovering nature and inventing from it? These questions have become increasingly significant as scientific and technological advancements continue to unlock the immense commercial potential of biodiversity. Biodiversity, encompassing the wide variety of...