While Traditional Knowledge and Practices of the people of India is fading away in the country of its origin, it seems foreigners are very much interested in getting them Patented and trademarked.
After "NEEM" and "HALDI", it's the word "KHADI", which is under controversy. Khadi and village industries commission (KVIC), an arm of the ministry of micro, small & medium enterprises, has pursued cancellation of the trademark hold by a Germany based company named "Khadi Naturprodukte".
Indian government in an attempt has objected the use of Khadi Trademark by German company to sell the fabric of Indian origin, but experts believe that in order to do that Indian government. would have to substantiate irrefutably in EU that its range of products have been selling in that market under the 'khadi' trademark for significantly more number of years and consumers there clearly associate those products with its brand.
With increasing number of such cases India started maintaining a database in the form of a Traditional Knowledge Digital Library. As per government this has allowed it to pre-empt over 200 bio-piracy attempts globally.
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