The document discusses the history of turmeric and the issues around patenting. It summarizes that in 1995, the US Patent Office granted a patent to the University of Mississippi Medical Center for "Use of Turmeric in Wound Healing." This patent was challenged by an Indian scientist, Dr. R A Mashelkar, who worked to increase awareness of intellectual property rights issues in India. The document then notes that going forward, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research in India is creating a database of traditional Indian knowledge to prevent "bio-pirates" from patenting ideas that were previously known in Indian knowledge systems.

1. Turmeric patent case

2. History
17th century Kerala: The Portuguese had anchored
off the Malabar coast and were received with
warmth by the Zamorin.
After a few days, the palace guards rush breathless
into the court, lit with alarm. "Your Majesty, the
foreigners are on the hill slopes," they report.
"uprooting pepper vines and carrying them away
to the ships. If they begin to grow these in their
lands we will lose our trade."
The Zamorin is unperturbed: "Ah, don't worry too
much. They may take the vines but how can they
take our monsoons."

3. Issue of patent
May, 1995 the US
Patent Office
granted to the
University of
Mississippi Medical
Center a patent
[#5,401,504] for
"Use of Turmeric in
Wound Healing.“

4. Awaken to intellectual property right
The patent was promptly challenged by Dr. R A
Mashelkar, an Indian scientist who has done
much to awaken India to Intellectual Property
Rights issues.
Director general of Council of Scientific and
Industrial Research (CSIR) (1995-2006)

5. The case

6. Prevention of further cases
CSIR, India, is directing the creation of a
massive data base that will record all
practical ideas proposed in Indian
knowledge systems. Once created this will
deny bio-pirates -- on the basis of prior
knowledge of their use having existed.

7. THANK YOU!