Intellectual Property Rights Regime for Livestock Agriculture in India - Present Status and Future Prospects

In order to protect the interest of all stake holders of livestock farming in India, it is necessary to protect innovations in livestock sector through appropriate IP instruments along with conservation and sustainable use of native livestock breeds and associated traditional knowledge through sui generis system in the modern IPR regime. The unique attributes of indigenous livestock breeds could be exploited for profits by getting some form of intellectual property rights (IPR) or protection. An appropriate internationally accepted legal system with respect to use of livestock biodiversity and patenting of novel genes may bring about economic benefit to the livestock keepers in the IPR regime through benefit sharing. Harmonization of IP regimes, access to technologies required for biotechnological research and development through easy licensing and/or patent exemptions especially for public benefit oriented research would pave way for making private investments and private-public participation attractive. Present status of IPR protection in livestock sector in India and future prospects considering the typical livestock production situation existing in the country are analysed.