AAAS Scientific Responsibility, Human Rights and Law Program

AAAS Project on Traditional Ecological Knowledge

Traditional Knowledge Prior Art Database (T.E.K.*P.A.D.)

As a way to address traditional knowledge that is already in the public domain and promote its use as prior art, the AAAS Science & Human Rights Program developed T.E.K.* P.A.D. (Traditional Ecological Knowledge Prior Art Database). T.E.K.* P.A.D. is an index and search engine of existing Internet-based, public domain documentation concerning indigenous knowledge and plant species uses. TEK*PAD brings together and archives in a single location, various types of public domain data necessary to establish prior art. Data includes taxonomic and other species data, ethnobotanical uses, scientific and medical articles and abstracts, as well as patent applications themselves. It is meant to be used by anyone researching traditional ecological knowledge, including scientists, health professionals, and those involved in the patent application process itself. In addition to information already in the public domain, T.E.K.* P.A.D. allows for the option of defensive disclosure, for traditional knowledge holders who wish to place information in the public domain in order to preempt patenting by others.

Enter T.E.K.* P.A.D.