WIPO concludes new treaty to protect genetic resources, traditional knowledge; India plays key role

Members of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) have reached an agreement mandating patent applicants to disclose the country of origin or source of genetic resources if their claimed invention is based on these materials or associated traditional knowledge. This treaty, adopted at a Diplomatic Conference in Geneva after two weeks of negotiations involving 192 countries and 86 observers, aims to protect Indian genetic resources and traditional knowledge from misappropriation.