Published Paper Details:

Since the time immemorial indigenous and local communities are treasure of traditional knowledge around the world. Indigenous knowledge has gained over centuries and is part of local culture and environment and it transmitted orally from generation to generation. In the context of biodiversity traditional knowledge refers to the know-how, skills and practices evolved and adopted by local and traditional communities over centuries regarding maintenance and use of natural resources. It covers medicinal and other properties of plants and animals, the manner of using them for healthcare and other essential needs. Indigenous and local communities are real natural resource managers and contribute to nation in conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity resource. They helps to regulate human interactions with the natural environment and secure intergenerational equity. Their skills and techniques provide valuable information to the global community and a useful model for biodiversity policies. Indigenous people identifies natural resources in biodiversity which contains medicinal values through skill and techniques which is useful for our society. Such skills and techniques should be protected under intellectual property law. Present intellectual property law has not recognised intellectual property rights of indigenous community. Hence this research article will discuss contemporary legal as well as policy issues in protecting intellectual property rights of indigenous and local community.