SAFEGUARDING HERITAGE: BASMATI RICE DISPUTE (INDIA V. RICETEC INC. 1997)

A legal battle over intellectual property between two countries that shook the whole global market stands as a cornerstone in the evolution of intellectual property law in India.The Basmati Rice Dispute (India v. RiceTec Inc., 1997) 2 became an influential case that pressed for the protection of traditional knowledge and geographical indications, setting a legal precedent.India's rich biodiversity has served as a magnet, attracting foreign countries.Since time immemorial, rice has been a staple food in most Asian countries, with India being a major exporter of Basmati rice.The US patent claim on Basmati, which infringed India's traditional knowledge rights, disregarded the cultural, agricultural, and geographic origins of Basmati rice.