Commercializing Traditional Knowledge

According to their traditions, the individuals in the traditional communities do not and cannot own the natural resources and the knowledge associated with the biodiversity. The natural resource and the knowledge are the common property. This is held by the community collectively for the welfare of all. There are certain individuals or families who hold specialized knowledge. This is passed on to their progeny to transmit the knowledge to subsequent generation. This knowledge too is held in trust for the benefit of the community. The knowledge is not to be privatized and commercialized.

There has been an intense debate on bringing such traditional knowledge under the intellectual property regime so that these can be commercialized. A predominant concern has been about the rights of the holders of these knowledge and related biodiversity. The prior informed consent of the owners or holders of this knowledge is to be obtained. A share in the profits that results from the commercialization of the knowledge and related natural resource are also to be given to the community. However, governments are yet to firmly incorporate these in their national laws. Nevertheless, these have become accepted principles internationally.

Acquiring the biological material such as plants, microorganisms and animals or the traditional knowledge on these biological materials without the prior informed consent of those whose traditional knowledge or biodiversity are taken is called biopiracy. Hoodia earned the reputation as an appetite suppressant after this knowledge was discovered with the indigenous San people. The Hoodia extract has been the basis for a number of products in the weight loss market. After the media raised the issue of biopiracy, a share in the royalties is now offered to the San people. There are isolated examples of recognition of similar claims as Arogyapacha in India.

The principles such as prior informed consent and equitable sharing of the benefits got enshrined as principles in the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). This convention became operational in 1993. The only countries who are yet to ratify this Convention are Andorra, Somalia, Brunei, United States and Iraq. All countries, under this Convention, had the right to control as well as regulate the commercial exploitation of its natural resources and indigenous knowledge on these resources. Prior informed consent and share in their profits were required to be offered by the bioprospectors. The national governments are expected to control and regulate access to the resources and knowledge.

Obesity can be treated in a lot of ways. However, natural treatments such as the Hoodia Extracts can treat obesity safely and effectively.

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