Intellectual Property Rights of Traditional Knowledge

As a developing country rich in natural resources, art and culture, Indonesia has a wide range of traditional knowledge. Therefore, as a national creation that has received international recognition, there is a need for legal recognition and protection that can take into account the ownership of traditional knowledge. Regulations in intellectual property rights, especially in patent law, aim to provide legal protection for inventions and economic benefits for inventors. However, patent laws adopted from IPR developed countries have not been able to provide optimal recognition and protection of traditional knowledge in its implementation. This is due to the difference between the concept of exclusive and individual patents and traditional knowledge that has traditional, communal, and open characteristics. Lack of general knowledge about IPR, inadequate technical acquisitions and low budgets are also obstacles in patenting traditional knowledge.