The central government has formed an inter-ministerial committee to formulate an "Access Policy" for the protection of intellectual property rights (IPR) concerning traditional knowledge. The policy, which is likely to be announced soon, would help enhance the utility of the Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL). The first phase of TKDL is recently completed by the National Institute of Science Communication and Information Resources (NISCAIR) for Indian Systems of Medicine and Homeopathy (ISM&H).

While the first phase saw the digitalization of 36,000 Ayurvedic formulations transcribed in patent application format, the subsequent phases would have similar works carried out for digitalizing Unani and Siddha formulations. The information is being made available in digital form in five international languages i.e. English, French, Spanish, German and Japanese.

TKDL, based on a novel way of decodification software allows automatic conversion of information from Sanskrit into various languages. The information includes names of plants, Ayurvedic description of diseases under their modern names and therapeutic formulations etc. TKDL will bring out traditional knowledge of Ayurveda, which is prior art and is already in the public domain, in forms and content that can be easily accessed by the Patent Offices, thus preventing wrongful patents. At the core of the project is the innovative approach in the form of Traditional Knowledge Resource Classification (TKRC) that enables conversion of 1,40,000 pages of information containing 35,000 formulations described in 14 texts of Ayurveda, into patent compatible format.

According to Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi, Minister for Human Resource Development and Science & Technology, the competition of the first phase of the traditional knowledge digitalisation has made the centre step up its measures on formulating the policy. "It is high time that the policy is readied quickly and implemented," he said.

Dr Joshi said that efforts are also being made to link the traditional knowledge resource classification developed by India with the International Patent Classification (IPC). The IPC has recognised the Indian classification as very novel and more authentic for patent protection and a Task Force has recommended the integration of the two systems. The integration will have a significant impact on the examination and grant of patents in the area of traditional knowledge, reducing the possibilities of grant of any wrong TK patent, he said.

The database will be made available to patent examiners globally under a non-disclosure agreement and would be put on the web with secured access. Dr. Joshi pointed out that while fighting for Basmati and Turmeric patents, India had to spend millions of dollars to get it back. Now with TKDL, it will be an easy task with no costs involved.