India News – India and Australia have signed a significant agreement to strengthen the protection of traditional knowledge by providing Australia's patent office with access to India's Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL). The agreement was signed during the 3rd India–Australia Annual Summit held in Melbourne on July 9, in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. The pact is among 18 major outcomes of the bilateral summit, reflecting growing cooperation across multiple strategic sectors.
Safeguarding Traditional Knowledge
The agreement has been signed between the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and IP Australia, enabling Australian patent examiners to access the CSIR-managed TKDL while examining patent applications under Australia's intellectual property laws.
The move is expected to help prevent the erroneous grant of patents based on knowledge that has long existed in India's traditional medicinal and cultural practices. By allowing patent examiners to verify documented prior art, the agreement strengthens safeguards against the misappropriation of indigenous knowledge.
Part of Wider India-Australia Cooperation
The TKDL access agreement forms part of a broader package of bilateral initiatives announced during the India–Australia Annual Summit. The discussions covered areas including defence and security, energy security, education, skill development, science and technology, filmmaking, traditional knowledge and the repatriation of cultural properties.
Officials said the agreement demonstrates the commitment of both countries to protecting indigenous knowledge systems while promoting stronger intellectual property frameworks through international cooperation.
How the TKDL Works
The Traditional Knowledge Digital Library is the world's first database dedicated to protecting traditional knowledge from being patented without justification. Developed by India, the database documents centuries-old knowledge from systems such as Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, Sowa Rigpa and Yoga, making it accessible to patent examiners in internationally recognised formats.
The database serves as evidence of prior art, allowing patent offices to reject applications that seek exclusive rights over knowledge already available in documented traditional literature. This mechanism has played a crucial role in preventing biopiracy and protecting India's cultural and medicinal heritage.
A Global Resource for Patent Examination
Established in 2001 through a collaborative initiative of CSIR and the Ministry of AYUSH, the TKDL currently contains information on more than 5.2 lakh traditional formulations and practices. The content has been translated into five international languages—English, German, French, Japanese and Spanish—to facilitate its use by patent offices across the world.
With Australia's inclusion, 18 patent offices now have access to the database under Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs), expanding the international network using India's documented traditional knowledge during patent examinations. According to official data, evidence from the TKDL has contributed to more than 375 patent applications worldwide being revoked, rejected, amended, withdrawn or abandoned.
Implementation and Future Outlook
The implementation of the agreement will be overseen jointly by senior officials from CSIR and IP Australia, including Australia's Commissioner of Patents, Andrew Wilkinson, CSIR Director General Dr. N. Kalaiselvi, and Dr. Viswajanani J. Sattigeri, who heads the CSIR-TKDL Unit.
The agreement is expected to deepen India-Australia cooperation in intellectual property protection while reinforcing global recognition of traditional knowledge as an important cultural and scientific resource. It also highlights India's continued efforts to leverage technology and documentation to preserve its rich heritage and prevent its misuse in international patent systems.
Sources : Press Information Bureau
