BIOPIRACY Imitations Not Innovations - Biopirateria

Biopiracy: Imitations Not Innovations 35
formation from the seeds of the Indian medicinal tree neem by the EPO. The
patent concerns a hydrophobic extracted neem oil - a fungicide from neem seed
that exhibits the ability to control various fungi. A legal opposition to this
patent was lodged and the patent was revoked on 11 May, 2000 after evidence
was shown to prove that this technique that was sought to be patented was well
known to local farmers and lacked any inventive step.
Other patents related to neem granted by the USPTO:
US Patent 6,336,949: Slow release urea fertilizer composition and a process
for the preparation of the said composition.
US Patent 6,264,982: Dietary supplement composition for the treatment
of haemorrhoids.
US Patent 6,264,926: Formulation useful as a natural herbal tooth powder
US Patent 5,906,825: Polymers containing antimicrobial agents and methods
for making and using same.
US Patent 5,886,029: Method and composition for treatment of diabetes.
US Patent 5,885,600: Natural insect repellent formula and method of
making same.
US Patent 5,827,521: Shelf stable insect repellent, and insect growth regulator
insecticidal formulations prepared from technical azadirachtin isolated from the
kernel extract of Azadirachta indica.
US Patent 5,730,986: Process for the isolation of an active principle from
Azadirachta indica useful for controlling gastric hyperacidity and gastric ulceration.
US Patent 5,602,261: Triterpene derivatives of azadirachtin having insect
antifeedant and growth inhibitory activity and a process for extracting such
compounds from the neem plant.
US Patent 5,591,436: Composition for a dietary supplement for the treatment
of haemorrhoids.
US Patent 5,501,855: Neem oil as a male contraceptive.
US Patent 5,472,700: Combinations of neem seed extract and bifenthrin for
control of ectoparasites on animals.
US Patent 5,370,873: Therapeutic compounds derived from the neem tree.
US Patent 5,352,697: Storage stable pesticide compositions comprising
azadirachtin and epoxide.
US Patent 5,298,247: Neem oil fatty acid distillation residue based pesticide.
US Patent 5,047,242: Azadirachtin derivative insecticides.
US Patent 4,960,791: Salannin derivative insect control agents.
US Patent 4,943,434: Insecticidal hydrogenated neem extracts.
US Patent 4,556,562: Stable anti-pest neem seed extract.
US Patent 4,536,496: Polysaccharides N9GI, their preparation and