Question

Differentiate between the following:

Biopatent and Biopiracy

Answer 1

Basis of Difference	Biopatent	Biopiracy
Meaning	A biopatent is an official legal right granted for a biological invention, process or product.	Biopiracy is obtaining patents or commercial benefits from biological materials or knowledge that are already known and used by people.
Main purpose or effect	A biopatent protects an inventor’s eligible invention from unauthorised commercial use for a limited period.	Biopiracy exploits bioresources or traditional knowledge without proper authorisation or fair compensation.
What it concerns	A biopatent may cover a genuinely new biological product, process or application.	Biopiracy often concerns existing bioresources, traditional uses, or products derived from them.
Who benefits	A biopatent can provide legal and commercial benefits to the inventor or patent holder.	Biopiracy commonly benefits companies or organisations that use resources or knowledge from local communities without fairly rewarding them.
Example	A patent may be granted for a genuinely new process developed to produce a useful biological product.	Patenting the known medicinal properties of turmeric or the traditional uses of neem without proper acknowledgement or compensation is an example of biopiracy.