What is Biopatent ?

Government grants the patent to certain inventors as permission to use invention for commercial purpose.

Biopatents are given to :

(i) For producing new product or invention.

(ii) Modified and improved earlier invention.

(iii) Technical know-how.

(iv) New designing concept.

Biopatents are being granted by the Government for biological entities and products derived from them. Countries like USA, Japan, members of European Union are granting biopatents. 

Sometimes the unplanned genetic modification of organisms may produce unpredictable harmful results. So the Indian Government has set up Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) which keeps an eye on the validity of GM approach and the  safety of GM organisms for the public services like food and medicine services.

A nice example of biopatency of indigenous biological resource by an influential corporate is that of basmati rice, an important food grain crop being grown in the Asian region even since thousands of years. In 1977, US Patent and Trade mark office granted its bio-patent to an American company though it was derived from Indian farmer's varieties. It was produced by crossing Indian Basmati variety with semi-dwarf variety.

Similarly, attempts, have been made to patent products and processes based on Indian traditional herbal medicines like turmeric and neem. So there is an urgent need of being vigilant against the efforts of large corporates to encash useful legacy of other countries or individuals.