KOTTAYAM: Chef Minister V.S. Achuthanandan has called for using knowledge as a weapon in the resistance against highly unequal and exploitative regimes being put in place by multinational companies (MNCs) and foreign powers.

He was inaugurating the valedictory session of a three-day international conference on `India and the New Global Intellectual Property Rights Regime' organised by the School of International Relations (SIR) at Mahatma Gandhi University here on Friday.

Mr. Achuthanandan stressed the need for academic dialogues to influence the decision making of the administration. He extended his support to evolve a model for joint functioning among the Government departments, the academic community and stake holders in this regard.

According to Mr. Achuthanandan, the new intellectual property rights regime (IPRs), which has been put in place, was highly exploitative and unequal. The power and right of a civil society to decide on the utilisation of wealth was being curtailed.

The right over a plot of land cannot be used to exploit the entire groundwater of the area, he said. Under the new regime, the society was paying a heavy price, he added.

The amended Patent Law, by incorporating the arbitrary 20-year patent period, has excluded the civil society from enjoying the fruits of the product for a long period. MNCs hold a lion's share of the patents, Mr. Achuthanandan said. The right and control of the Government and society over such patens were getting restrained under the new law, he added.

In the case of Kerala, the impact of the intellectual property regime on ayurveda and traditional knowledge needs much attention. Studies and researches should be conducted on the subject, The Chief Minister said.

Raju Thadikkaran, director, SIR, called for the setting up of a State Commission on Intellectual Property Rights. Such a commission, drafting expertise from professionals, Government officials and those from the legal profession could formulate policy framework for the State. They could also study the experiences of other nations.

The focus should be on traditional knowledge, biodiversity and geographical indication, he said. No State in the country has set up a commission for IPR, he said.

Vice-Chancellor Jancy James presided over the function.

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