Peru has blocked several foreign companies from securing patents on products they say were developed using Peruvian traditional knowledge (TK). In the past several months, Peru’s National Commission Against BioPiracy has been able to show authorities from France, Japan, Korea, and the US that products submitted for patents failed to demonstrate the innovation and inventiveness required for patents. ”This is a good example of how coordinated action between the state, the business sector and civil society can prevent inappropriately granted patents related to genetic resources and traditional knowledge,” technical coordinator at the Commission, Andrés Valladolid said as quoted by International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development. National and international recognition and protection of TK is a critical issue for many developing countries, and especially Peru, who is among ten countries [Continue reading...]