Traditional knowledge (TK) is in simple terms knowledge systems held by indigenous communities, often relating to their surrounding natural environment. Through globalisation and the increased availability of this knowledge as well as the implementation of intellectual property systems in the developing world TK and its relationship with the IPR-system has become a much debated and [...]
Craig Johnston, a Liverpool footballer from 1980 to 1988, has a reputation for being something of an ideas man. He created the TV game show “The Main Event”; he wrote The Butler software which tracks the drinks taken out of minibar fridges in hotel rooms; he invented Traxion sole, used on most football boots; he [...]
In late 1997, an American company RiceTec Inc, was granted a patent by the US patent office to call the aromatic rice grown outside India ‘Basmati’. RiceTec Inc, had been trying to enter the international Basmati market with brands like ‘Kasmati‘ and ‘Texmati‘ described as Basmati-type rice with minimal success. However, with the Basmati patent [...]