Patenting traditional medicine

More about the book

Traditional medicines have and will continue to form the basis of modern pharmaceuticals. Many indigenous communities are claiming legal rights in pharmaceuticals derived from their traditional medicine. In the past, such knowledge derived from non-western communities was largely regarded as free information. This has led some to attack the patent system as an exploitative tool of the developed world. The first part of this analysis deals with the kind of protection provided in national legislation. Methods of protecting traditional medicine in India and China receive special attention. The second major issue covered in this volume is the kind of protection offered to traditional medicine of other countries in the West, including international agreements. The U.S. is a particular focus, as it is here that many of the battles over patenting traditional medicine are fought. While no uncontroversial answers can be given in this debate, the relative strengths and weaknesses of various positions can be assessed.