Intellectual Property Rights and the Protection of Traditional Knowledge (Advances in Knowledge Acquisition, Transfer, and Management)

Traditional knowledge is largely oral collective of knowledge, beliefs, and practices of indigenous people on sustainable use and management of resources. The survival of this knowledge is at risk due to various difficulties faced by the holders of this knowledge, the threat to the cultural survival of many communities, and the international lack of respect and appreciation of traditional knowledge. However, the greatest threat is that of appropriation by commercial entities in derogation of the rights of the original holders. Though this practice is morally questionable, in the absence of specific legal provisions, it cannot be regarded as a crime. Intellectual Property Rights and the Protection of Traditional Knowledge is a collection of innovative research on methods for protecting indigenous knowledge including studies on intellectual property rights and sovereignty rights. It also analyzes the contrasting interests of developing and developed countries in the protection of traditional knowledge as an asset. While highlighting topics including biopiracy, dispute resolution, and patent law, this book is ideally designed for legal experts, students, industry professionals, and practitioners seeking current research on the development and enforcement of intellectual property rights in relation to traditional knowledge.

Nisha Dhanraj Dewani has done her LL.B and LLM (corporate law) from Jamia Millia Islamia (India) and submitted her thesis on a subject of patent. She has practiced as a lawyer in Delhi High Court for 3 years. Besides she worked with reputed law firm and senior partners handling IPR matters for 2 years. In addition, she holds more than 9 years' experience in academics. She qualified the U.G.C. NET and JRF in 2010. Her major area of academic interest includes Intellectual Property rights, International Commercial Law and Public International Law. She has many research papers in various national and international reputed law journals. She has received number of letters of appreciation not only from the academic institutions but from different law journals for her contributions. She has presented many research papers in various seminars and conferences. She has worked with UNICEF and many reputed NGOs. Also she has judged many National and International Moot Court Competition. Presently she is working with Maharaja Agrasen Institute of Management Studies (School of Law).

Amulya Gurtu is the Chair-Business Administration and an Associate Professor of Supply Chain Management at the Cofrin School of Business, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, Green Bay, WI, USA. He obtained his Ph.D. from Ryerson University, Canada, an M.B.A. from Ivey Business School, Western University, Canada. His research interests are in global manufacturing and supply chains, and its impact on the environment and society. His research has been published in Transportation Journal, the International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management, Operations and Supply Chain Management, Services Marketing Quarterly, the International Journal of Inventory Research, the International Journal of Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Marketing, the Journal of Cleaner Production, Management Research Review, the Journal of Environment & Development, Sustainable Production and Consumption, and Applied Mathematical Modelling. He is the Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Sustainable Entrepreneurship and Corporate Social Responsibility (IJSECSR) and an Associate Editor of the International Journal of Systems Science: Operations & Logistics published by Taylor & Francis. He can be reached at http: //www.uwgb.edu/gurtua .