Biological PiracyBiological Piracy

Joanna Lim and Kal PeraltaJoanna Lim and Kal Peralta

IntroductionIntroduction

Biological Piracy or Biopiracy for Biological Piracy or Biopiracy for short is no different from DVD short is no different from DVD pirating. Before, there were no pirating. Before, there were no territorial disputes and there were territorial disputes and there were no laws concerning the ownership of no laws concerning the ownership of biological resources. Because of this, biological resources. Because of this, stealing of biological material stealing of biological material increased.increased.

Definition of TermsDefinition of Terms

Biopiracy- the illegal use or Biopiracy- the illegal use or commercialization of biological objectscommercialization of biological objects

Bioprospecting- collecting of biological Bioprospecting- collecting of biological resources for scientific knowledgeresources for scientific knowledge

Biological Theft- illegal collection of Biological Theft- illegal collection of biological materials by corporations biological materials by corporations which patent them for their own usewhich patent them for their own use

Definition of TermsDefinition of Terms

Patent- exclusive right given by the Patent- exclusive right given by the government to the inventor to government to the inventor to manufacture, use or sell an invention manufacture, use or sell an invention for a couple of yearsfor a couple of years

Biodiversity- the number and variety of Biodiversity- the number and variety of organisms found in an environmentorganisms found in an environment

Privatization- the change from public to Privatization- the change from public to private ownership or controlprivate ownership or control

Definition of TermsDefinition of Terms

Bioprospectors- people who prospects Bioprospectors- people who prospects for biological materialsfor biological materials

Biopirate- a person who uses or Biopirate- a person who uses or reproduces the work of an inventor reproduces the work of an inventor without authorizationwithout authorization

Monoculture- a single homogeneous Monoculture- a single homogeneous culture without diversity or dissensionculture without diversity or dissension

Definition of TermsDefinition of Terms

Industrial Property- intellectual Industrial Property- intellectual property that includes inventions property that includes inventions (patents), trademarks, industrial (patents), trademarks, industrial designs and geographic indications designs and geographic indications of sourceof source

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Biopiracy- illegal collection of Biopiracy- illegal collection of biological materials by corporations biological materials by corporations who patent them for their own usewho patent them for their own use

- uses flora and fauna- uses flora and fauna

- exploitation of the medicine - exploitation of the medicine or knowledge of the traditional peopleor knowledge of the traditional people

-monopolization of biological -monopolization of biological resourcesresources

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-illegal, violates domestic law-illegal, violates domestic law

-doesn’t respect, recognize, -doesn’t respect, recognize, or give credit to the rightful owner of or give credit to the rightful owner of the life formsthe life forms

Bioprospecting- search for biological Bioprospecting- search for biological resources and indigenous knowledge resources and indigenous knowledge used for commercial exploitationused for commercial exploitation

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Biopiracy is NOT the same as Biopiracy is NOT the same as bioprospecting.bioprospecting.

Bioprospecting is NOT a threat to Bioprospecting is NOT a threat to biodiversity because it does not take biodiversity because it does not take something from one’s own use something from one’s own use without obtaining the Prior Informed without obtaining the Prior Informed Consent (PIC). Consent (PIC).

Bioprospecting gives credit or Bioprospecting gives credit or compensation UNLIKE biopiracy.compensation UNLIKE biopiracy.

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Main Sources of Biopiracy:Main Sources of Biopiracy: CorporationsCorporations Academic InstitutionsAcademic Institutions GovernmentsGovernments

They claim intellectual property over They claim intellectual property over genetic resources (patents on life)genetic resources (patents on life)

Related LiteratureRelated Literature Nanotechnology- manipulation of Nanotechnology- manipulation of

individual atoms and moleculesindividual atoms and molecules Nanopirates claim ownership of Nanopirates claim ownership of

molecules and even it elements where molecules and even it elements where they came fromthey came from

CBD (Convention of Biological Diversity) CBD (Convention of Biological Diversity) believe that agreements can be arranged believe that agreements can be arranged for both parties to for the benefit of the for both parties to for the benefit of the majority in overcoming biopiracymajority in overcoming biopiracy

Position on the IssuePosition on the Issue

Pro-Biopiracy:Pro-Biopiracy: It will help the advancement of It will help the advancement of

technology and enrich the scientific technology and enrich the scientific knowledge.knowledge.

Cures of different diseases can be Cures of different diseases can be discovered.discovered.

Can life be owned?Can life be owned?

Position on the IssuePosition on the Issue

Con-Biopiracy:Con-Biopiracy: Causes imbalance in the biodiversity.Causes imbalance in the biodiversity. Stealing of intellectual rights Stealing of intellectual rights

Indigenous people lose profitIndigenous people lose profit No credit is given to the proper owner of No credit is given to the proper owner of

the materialthe material No definite laws that concern biopiracyNo definite laws that concern biopiracy Pharmaceuticals abuse in order to gain Pharmaceuticals abuse in order to gain

profitprofit

Rosy PeriwinkleRosy Periwinkle(Catharansus Roseus)(Catharansus Roseus)

Native and endemic to MadagascarNative and endemic to Madagascar Evergreen subshrubEvergreen subshrub Vinblastine and vincristine used to treat Vinblastine and vincristine used to treat

LeukemiaLeukemia Treats diabetes, malaria and Hodgkin’s Treats diabetes, malaria and Hodgkin’s

diseasedisease Conflict between western companies and Conflict between western companies and

indigenous groups because of recent indigenous groups because of recent patentspatents

Neem TreeNeem Tree(Azadirachta Indica)(Azadirachta Indica)

Found in IndiaFound in India fast- growing evergreen that can reach 20 fast- growing evergreen that can reach 20

m in heightm in height Azardirachtin-astringency chemical found Azardirachtin-astringency chemical found

in the treein the tree Treats leprosy, diabetes, ulcers, skin Treats leprosy, diabetes, ulcers, skin

diseases and constipationdiseases and constipation 1971-Robert Larson found Margosan-O 1971-Robert Larson found Margosan-O

and received patent from the US and received patent from the US Environmental Protection agency in 1985Environmental Protection agency in 1985

Conclusion/ResolutionConclusion/Resolution

Definite laws that must be followed by Definite laws that must be followed by everyoneeveryone CBD must have a standard set of rules for CBD must have a standard set of rules for

everyone in order to avoid confusion.everyone in order to avoid confusion. Must reach an agreementMust reach an agreement

Illegal activity or biopirates must be Illegal activity or biopirates must be fined if caughtfined if caught

Pharmaceutical companies must Pharmaceutical companies must respect the people or the country respect the people or the country