USPTO seeks comments on treaty to protect Indigenous knowledge
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is requesting public comments on whether the U.S. should join an international treaty requiring patent applicants to disclose when inventions use Indigenous traditional knowledge or genetic resources, such as medicinal plants. The treaty, adopted in May by the World Intellectual Property Organization, aims to prevent erroneous patents on non-novel inventions. Business groups, including PhRMA and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, have raised concerns about compliance challenges and potential impacts on innovation.
Comments due: March 18, 2025
Public hearing: April 29, 2025
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