One of the most straightforward means to target bloactive compounds, which is of interest to the different sectors of industry, is through traditonat medicinal knowledge. Part 1 of this research offers a very useful description related to conceptual and legal issues and provides readers from different backgrounds with introductory information. Part 2 settles an in-depth anatysis of the legal problems that arise when a patented Invention integrates in its claim traditional medicinal knowledge related to genetic resources. Part 3 provides some of the most relevant solutions for the problems identified by defining a legal regime of protection. In this respect, it analyses the latest draft instruments discussed in VVIPO and several national laws, amongst them the Swiss law.
The thesis describes the different issues arising in relation to the protection of traditional medicinal knowledge and intellectual property rights, namely patent rights. lt is thus of interest to readers not familiar with the topic of the protection of traditlonal medicinal knowledge at all, or with expertise in only one of the relevant subtopics. Thus, for example, patent experts could find it helpful to have the necessary information at hand on the issue of indigenous peoples at the international level, or on the ways in which new medicines are developed. The same holde true for experts in traditional knowledge, who may find the analysis of patents and traditional medicinal knowledge of interest.
