8 Wake Forest Intell. Prop. L.J. 81
Genetic resources and related traditional knowledge constitute the biological basis for many future agricultural and medicinal developments. Their transfer from developing to developed countries over centuries has been viewed as an example of exploitation, commonly termed as ‘biopiracy’. Developing countries that claim ownership to a large reserve of the earth’s pool of genetic resources and related traditional knowledge view the exploitative tendencies of the gene poor but technologically rich developed countries, with skepticism. This article examines current patterns and finds that developing countries in Asia are equally active in protection of their knowledge and resources from misappropriation by the developed countries, through framing and implementing laws at national levels. Mindful of the impact on both, economies and cultures of these developing countries, the author also subjects the various international intellectual property rights regimes to critical scrutiny. Thus by presenting a wide range of Asian experiences and perspectives on the legal protection of genetic resources and related traditional knowledge, this research provides the reader with ample food for thought in designing any possible solutions for even effective protection.