About the Traditional Knowledge

Digital Librar
(Information courtesy of the Council of Scienti c and Industrial Research

The Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL) project, initiated in India in 2001, is a
collaboration between the Council of Scienti c and Industrial Research (CSIR), Ministry of Science
and Technology, and the Department of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and
Homeopathy (AYUSH), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, of India.  It is being implemented
at the CSIR.   The inter-disciplinary team involved in the creation of the TKDL for Indian Systems
of Medicine included traditional medicine experts (Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha and Yoga), patent
examiners, IT experts, scientists and technical of cers

Fact
The TKDL contains documentation of publicly available traditional knowledge (TK) that

• relates to Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha and Yog

• is in digitized forma
• is available in ve languages: English, German, French, Japanese and Spanish
The TKDL, which contains over 34 million pages

• provides information on TK existing in India, in languages and a format understandable by

patent examiners at international patent of ce
• contains information for patent examiners on prior art that would otherwise be available
only in Sanskrit and other local languages in Indian librarie
• lists the precise time, place and medium of publication for prior art searches by patent
examiner
• aims to prevent the granting of erroneous patents

Goal
The TKDL

• seeks to prevent the granting of patents for products developed utilizing TK where there has
been little, if any, inventive ste
• intends to act as a bridge between information recorded in ancient Sanskrit and patent
examiners (with its database containing information in a language and format
understandable to patent examiners
• facilitates access to information not easily available to patent examiners, thereby minimizing
the possibility that patents could be granted for “inventions” involving only minor or
insigni cant modi cations

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 Certain patents of ces have been granted access to the TKDL for carrying out prior art searches and
patent examination

• European Patent Of ce (February 2009

• Indian Patent Of ce (July 2009
• German Patent Of ce (October 2009
• United States Patent and Trademark Of ce (November 2009
• United Kingdom Intellectual Property Of ce (February 2010
• Canadian Intellectual Property Of ce (September 2010
• IP Australia (January 2011
Since gaining access in February 2009, the EPO has identi ed 36 patents that make use of Indian
TK.  In some cases, the EPO has set aside its intention to grant the patent, while in others applicants
have withdrawn their application. (Examples of EPO applications set aside, modi ed or withdrawn
based on TKDL evidence.)  Similar results are expected by the CSIR for the rest of these cases. 
According to the CSIR, this could help prevent legally complex and expensive opposition
processes

Examples of EPO applications set aside,

modi ed or withdrawn based on TKDL
evidenc
(Information courtesy of the Council of Scientific and Industrial
Research)

Earlier intention to grant a patent set aside by EPO:

•
EP1520585: EPO decided to grant patent to M/s. Data
Medica, Padova SPA, Italy on 19.2.2009 for use of Pista as an
anti-cancer drug. Evidence submitted by TKDL Unit, CSIR,
India on 09.07.2009, based upon which the EPO set aside its
earlier intention to grant patent on 14.07.2009.
• EP1747786: EPO decided to grant patent to M/s. Perdix
Eurogroup SL, Spain on 02.04.2009 for use of watery extract
of Kharbooza /melon as an anti-vitilgo cream. Evidence
submitted by TKDL Unit, CSIR, India on 08.07.2009, based
upon which the EPO set aside its earlier intention to grant
patent on 28.7.2009.
Claims of the application modified the applicant:
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 • EP1849473: EPO decided to grant patent to M/s. Livzon
Pharmaceutical Group Inc., China on 25.02.2010 for use of
Kalamegha and Mint for the treatment of avian influenza.
Evidence submitted by TKDL Unit, CSIR, India on 20.05.2010,
based upon which the EPO set aside its earlier intention to
grant patent on 10.6.2010. Subsequently M/s. Livzon
Pharmaceutical Group Inc modified its claims on 05.07.2010 in
the independent use of Kalamegha and Mint for the treatment
of avian influenza.
Claims/applications withdrawn by the applicant:

• EP1781309: M/s Purimed Co. LTD., Korea filed a patent

application on 09-06-2005 for treatment of heart diseases
using Indian lotus. Evidence submitted by TKDL Unit, CSIR,
India on 17-07-2009. On 04-08-2009 applicant decided to
withdraw its claims / patent application.
• EP1807098: M/s Amcod Limited, Kenya filed a patent
application on13-09-2005 for treatment of diabetes using
Neem, Gheekawaar and Daal Chini. Evidence submitted by
TKDL Unit, CSIR, India on 01-07-2009. On 24-11-2009
applicant decided to withdraw its claims / patent application.
• EP2116253: M/s Phytrix JV, LLC, USA, filed a patent
application on 07.05.2008 using Phyllanthus / Bhumi aamla for
the treatment of HIV associated diseases. Evidence submitted
by TKDL Unit, CSIR, India on 03.08.2010. On 28-09-2010
applicant decided to withdraw its claims / patent application.
• EP1971354: M/s Seoul National University Industry
Foundation, Korea, filed a patent application on 05.01.2007
using licorice / Mulaithi for the treatment of liver diseases.
Evidence submitted by TKDL Unit, CSIR, India on 04.05.2010.
On 21-10-2010 applicant decided to withdraw its claims /
patent application.