Sharing traditional knowledge for commerce : the power of bargaining strength
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Date
2005
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SANDEE, Kathmandu, NP
Abstract
Across South Asia, traditional communities use knowledge that has been accumulated over many generations to treat sickness and improve food production. Many companies and organizations – particularly those involved in the pharmaceutical industry – have become increasingly interested in such traditional knowledge because it offers the possibility of a ‘short cut’ to the development of new foods, drugs and other products. // A recent SANDEE study investigates the economic incentives that can be used to protect and sustainably use this traditional knowledge. The study also looks at how revenues from the utilization of traditional knowledge can be shared equitably. Not surprisingly, it finds that both traditional communities and pharmaceutical companies need to be confident that they can profit from working together. However, a number of hurdles can come in the way of developing workable contracts and agreements. The study suggests that actual sharing of the revenues depends, most importantly, on the relative bargaining strengths of the two parties. Factors that affect bargaining strengths need to be taken into account in designing schemes that can help communities benefit from the use of their traditional knowledge.
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This policy brief is based on SANDEE working paper no.11-05, "Using traditional knowledge for commercial innovations : incentives, bargaining and community profits"
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Keywords
BIOPROSPECTING, PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY, TRADITIONAL MEDICINE, MEDICINAL PLANTS, RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, PHARMACEUTICALS, INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, PROFIT SHARING, COMMUNITIES, CONSERVATION OF CULTURAL HERITAGE, SOUTH ASIA