Anisha N G, KLE Society's Law College Bengaluru
ABSTRACT
Traditional knowledge (TK) comprises customary practices and innovations transmitted through generations within communities relating to agriculture, medicine, and environmental management. Preserving TK is essential for safeguarding cultural diversity, cultural heritage, and its potential benefits
for sustainable development and biodiversity preservation. This paper explores how digital archives play a crucial role in safeguarding traditional knowledge (TK) by highlighting their capacity to maintain the accuracy, genuineness, and accessibility of cultural content. Digital archives provide worldwide coverage, lasting storage, effective information organization, and improved research collaboration. However, the process of digitization also poses obstacles like intellectual property rights (IPR) concerns, ethical dilemmas, and potential misuse. We will examine the significance of preserving traditional knowledge (TK) and showcase how digital archives can connect traditional and modern information systems. Examples like the Indian Traditional Knowledge Digital Library and the Indigenous Digital Archive show the effective execution of digital preservation projects. The need for alternative legal frameworks is highlighted by the shortcomings of existing IPR regimes, such as co-ownership, documentation, and temporal scope problems. Recent developments, including blockchain technology and artificial intelligence, present new ways to oversee and safeguard TK databases, guaranteeing transparency, secure profit distribution, and precise translations. This paper also examines the ethical dilemmas of digitizing traditional knowledge and suggests strategies like implementing access control, involving local communities, and incorporating customary laws. By integrating hybrid legal systems and community protocols, we can guarantee that the rights and beliefs of Indigenous communities are honored in the conservation and utilization of TK. Ultimately, this study advocates for a teamwork-focused and culturally mindful strategy for safeguarding digital assets, guaranteeing the safeguarding and reverence of ancestral wisdom for upcoming generations.
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