India and Australia have signed a Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL) Access Agreement, enabling IP Australia to use India’s traditional knowledge database during patent examinations. The pact will strengthen intellectual property protection, prevent wrongful patents, and promote cooperation in safeguarding indigenous knowledge systems.
Key Highlights
- CSIR signed a TKDL Access Agreement with IP Australia during the 3rd India–Australia Annual Summit.
- The agreement enables IP Australia to use TKDL as prior art while examining patent applications.
- TKDL contains over 5.2 lakh traditional formulations and practices across multiple Indian knowledge systems.
- With Australia joining, 18 international patent offices now have access to the CSIR-TKDL database.
New Delhi, July 10: India has strengthened its intellectual property cooperation with Australia by signing a Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL) Access Agreement between the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and IP Australia. The agreement was signed during the 3rd India–Australia Annual Summit in Melbourne and forms one of the 18 major outcomes of the bilateral summit.
The agreement allows IP Australia to access India’s Traditional Knowledge Digital Library while examining patent applications under Australian patent laws and examination procedures. By consulting the database as documented prior art, Australian patent examiners will be able to identify existing traditional knowledge and prevent the erroneous grant of patents on knowledge that already belongs to India’s documented heritage.
The agreement was concluded in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, reflecting the growing strategic partnership between the two countries. It also demonstrates their shared commitment to strengthening intellectual property systems while protecting indigenous knowledge from misappropriation.
The Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (CSIR-TKDL) is a pioneering digital repository developed by India to safeguard its centuries-old traditional knowledge. It was created to stop the wrongful patenting of traditional medicinal practices and formulations, ensuring that documented knowledge remains freely available as prior art for patent examination authorities worldwide.
Currently, CSIR-TKDL contains more than 5.2 lakh documented formulations and traditional practices covering Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, Sowa Rigpa and Yoga. To facilitate international use, the database has been translated into English, German, French, Japanese and Spanish, enabling patent examiners across the globe to efficiently verify prior art during patent assessments.
With the inclusion of IP Australia, 18 international patent offices now have access to the TKDL under Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs). The expanded collaboration is expected to promote more accurate patent examination, stronger protection of traditional knowledge, and enhanced global cooperation in intellectual property rights.
Conclusion
The India-Australia TKDL agreement marks another milestone in protecting traditional knowledge, strengthening patent examination processes, and reinforcing bilateral cooperation in innovation and intellectual property governance.
