The Union Cabinet today gave its approval for authorising National Institute of Science Communication and Information Resources (NISCAIR), CSIR, DSIR to sign a non-disclosure agreement with International Patent Offices, for making Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL) accessible to patent examiners.

This decision will enable NISCAIR, CSIR to sign the non-disclosure agreement and provide access to TKDL database round the clock on secured portal as per the terms and conditions of the Access Agreement.

The Cabinet has also approved the proposal to cover the entire cost of TKDL till completion which is approximately Rs 10 crore. The entire work of TKDL would be completed by December 2007.

TKDL documents codified Traditional Knowledge on India's traditional medicine systems in patent application format in five international languages. TKDL will prevent misappropriation of Traditional Knowledge information particularly with respect to Traditional medicines such as Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha and Yoga at International Patent Offices.

The non-disclosure Agreement with the International Patent Offices will be negotiated without deviating from the core principles- Access to TKDL by the examiners of an international patent Office would only be utilised for patent search and examination, and International Patent Offices and their examiners would not make any third party disclosure other than what is necessary and essential for the purposes of patent search and examination.