Which Indian plants have either been patented or attempts have been ma...
India is a country rich in tradition and expertise in natural medicines, spices, food preparations, biological pesticides and divers agriculture. Through painting without consist, foreign companies have collared at least 22 plants for their beneficial derivatives. Patients have been taken out on plants such as black papper (Piper nigrum), basmati rice (Oryaza sativa) Indian mustard (Brassica Campestris). Pomegranate (Punica granatum), turmeric (Curcuma domestica) and neem (Azadirachta indica). US, Japanse and German companies are the principal patenting pirates.
Which Indian plants have either been patented or attempts have been ma...
Indian Plants and Western Patenting
The Situation:
The practice of patenting Indian plants by Western nations for their commercial use has been a point of contention for many years. The issue is particularly contentious because many of these plants are integral to traditional Indian medicine and have been used for centuries.
The Plants:
a) Basmati Rice: In 1997, a US company filed a patent for a strain of rice that was essentially basmati rice. The patent was granted, but India launched a legal challenge and ultimately had the patent revoked in 2002.
b) Turmeric: In the 1990s, two American researchers obtained a patent for the use of turmeric in wound healing. India launched a legal challenge, and the patent was eventually revoked in 1997.
c) Neem: In the 1990s, several patents were granted to Western companies for the use of neem oil in various products, including pesticides and fungicides. India, however, had already been using neem for centuries and launched a legal challenge. The patents were ultimately revoked.
All of these have been targeted:
All three of these plants have been targeted for patenting by Western nations. However, India has been successful in challenging these patents and having them revoked. The issue is not limited to these three plants, however. Many other Indian plants have been targeted for patenting, and the issue remains a contentious one.
In conclusion, the patenting of Indian plants by Western nations is a contentious issue. While attempts have been made to patent plants such as basmati rice, turmeric, and neem, India has been successful in challenging these patents and having them revoked. The issue is ongoing, however, and many other Indian plants are at risk of being patented for commercial use.
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