The future of patent deposition of microorganisms? Original Research Article

The deposition of patents of microorganisms in a culture collection recognized as an international depository authority (IDA) might be necessary in the realm of intellectual property rights. IDAs deal with various biological materials as well as microorganisms, and several problems are encountered in the handling and storage of such diverse samples, particularly in developing countries. IDAs also vary in the nature of the biological material accepted for deposition. An action plan for developing countries towards creating IDAs and preserving the natural gene pool has been evolved. It is likely that IDAs will transform into ‘biological resource centers’ and further into ‘global common genetic resources’, with an internationally agreed legal basis for benefit sharing.