This podcast episode tells the story of Dr. Raghunath Mishelkar, a scientist in India who took on the US Patent Office in a battle against biopiracy and the patenting of traditional knowledge. Mishelkar's journey begins with his shock over the patenting of turmeric, a traditional remedy, and his vow to fight for the rights of his country's traditional knowledge. This leads to his mission to build a traditional knowledge digital library to protect traditional remedies from biopirates. The episode also explores the concept of biopiracy and the larger problem of appropriative patents, which exploit traditional knowledge without the consent or benefit of indigenous communities. Mishelkar's efforts result in the successful cancellation of the turmeric patent, bringing celebration in India.
Anti-commonsence
The episode presents an anti-commonsense point of view by suggesting that the market would naturally challenge patents with commercial value and that the traditional knowledge digital library was an unnecessary waste of public money. However, this overlooks the fact that many indigenous communities do not have the resources or legal means to challenge unauthorized patents or defend their traditional knowledge. The library serves as a crucial tool in protecting against biopiracy and promoting the equitable treatment of traditional knowledge.
