Beyond Patents: The Cultural Life of Native Healing and the Limitations of the Patent System as a Protective Mechanism for Indigenous Knowledge on the Medicinal Uses of Plants

Authors

Ikechi Mgbeoji, Osgoode Hall Law School of York UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2005

Source Publication

Canadian Journal of Law and Technology. Volume 5, Number 1 (2005), p. 1-12.

Abstract

In the past decade, indigenous knowledge systems have witnessed a belated renaissance, both in policy instruments of international organizations and in some international law agreements. In the progressive emancipation of indigenous knowledge systems, two key issues have arisen. The first is the controversial appropriation of various products, innovations, art forms, and intellectual property of indigenous knowledge systems. A particularly contested aspect of this phenomenon has been characterized as biopiracy. The second closely related issue is whether dominant regimes for the protection of intellectual property are compatible with indigenous knowledge systems.

Repository Citation

Mgbeoji, Ikechi. "Beyond Patents: The Cultural Life of Native Healing and the Limitations of the Patent System as a Protective Mechanism for Indigenous Knowledge on the Medicinal Uses of Plants." Canadian Journal of Law and Technology 5.1 (2005): 1-12.

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