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United States Department of Agriculture obtained a patent for neem oil extraction and use as a pesticide, claiming it as a novel invention despite its well- documented traditional use. In 2000, the EPO revoked the patent, marking a victory for indigenous knowledge and setting a global precedent against biopiracy while emphasizing the need to protect biodiversity and the rights of local communities. 2. The biopiracy case of turmeric involved the patenting of its traditional use in wound healing, a practice well-known in Indian culture for centuries. In 1995, two researchers from the University of Mississippi Medical Center were granted a U.S. patent for using turmeric powder to heal wounds, claiming novelty in their application. This sparked outrage as turmeric’s medicinal properties were part of India’s ancient Ayurvedic knowledge. The Indian Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) challenged the patent, presenting documented evidence from ancient texts and publications that turmeric’s wound-healing properties were already well-established. In 1997, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) revoked the patent, recognizing the lack of novelty. This case became a landmark victory in the fight against biopiracy,emphasizingtheneedtosafeguardtraditional knowledge and prevent its unjust appropriation by corporations. 3. The biopiracy case of Basmati rice involved the U.S.-based company RiceTec Inc., which, in 1997, was granted a patent by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for certain strains of Basmati rice and methods of breeding them. Basmati, a variety of aromatic long-grain rice, is traditionally grown in the Indian subcontinent and is deeply tied to the cultural heritage and agricultural practices of India and Pakistan. The patent allowed RiceTec to label their rice as “Basmati” in international markets, threatening the livelihood of Indian farmers and undermining the unique geographic identity of traditional Basmati. The Indian government and advocacy groups strongly opposed the patent, arguing that Basmati rice and its qualities were a product of traditional agricultural knowledge and not an invention. After a widespread international campaign, several claims in the patent were successfully challenged, leading to a partial 337 Entrepreneurship Reprint 2025-26