Biopiracy in the Amazon

Patents and trademarks on:

:: CUPUAÇU

:: AÇAÍ

:: COPAÍBA

:: ANDIROBA

:: AYAHUASCA

:: MORE CASES...

COPAÍBA

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Copaiba oil or balm is extracted from the Copaiba tree (Copaifera sp) by drilling holes in the trunk of the tree
It is a transparent, soft liquid with a bitter taste. Its color varies from yellow to golden brown. Copaiba oil is mostly used for medicinal purposes, such as treatment of inflammations and cancer. The demand for Copaiba oil is growing in the regional and global market due to its proven medicinal properties.

Traditional use
Copaiba is an incredibly powerful natural antibiotic and has already saved many lives of injured people in the Rainforest. In some regions people prepare a tea from the bark of the Copaiba tree for anti-inflammatory purposes. In the city of Belem people now substitute Copaiba oil with a concoction made from the bark of the tree, because it becomes more and more difficult to find the oil. The bark is also used for preparation of all kinds of syrups for cough. In the Peruvian Andes, Copaiba resin is used for urinary incontinence, syphilis and catarrh.

Universal remedy from the Amazon
The traditional medicine in Brazil recommends Copaiba oil as an anti-inflammatory agent, for treatment of dandruff, all kinds of skin disorders and for stomach ulcers. Copaiba also has diuretic, expectorant, disinfecting and stimulating properties, and is being utilized in the treatment of bronchitis, sore throat, psoriasis, against parasites and as a contraceptive. In addition, Copaiba oil serves as fuel, replacing the diesel oil in the oil lamps as used in the Amazonian comunities. Copaiba oil can be used for industrial production of varnish, perfumes, pharmaceutical articles and even for revealing photographs. **

PATENTS ON COPAIBA
(This list contains only patents with the word Copaiba in the patent title. Search esp@cenet for other patents on Copaiba.)

Registered by	Registered where	Publication date	Title	Number (Click the number for more information from esp@cenet)
TECHNICO-FLOR (S.A.)*	France	24/12/1993	NOUVELLES COMPOSITIONS COSMETÍQUES OU ALIMENTAIRES RENFERMANT DU COPAIBA	FR2692480
TECHNICO-FLOR (S.A.)*	WIPO - worldwide	06/01/1994	COSMETIC OR FOOD COMPOSITIONS CONTAINING COPAIBA	WO9400105 EP0601160
AVEDA CORP*	USA	30/03/1999	METHOD OF COLORING HAIR OR EYELASHES WITH COMPOSITIONS WHICH CONTAIN METAL CONTAINING PIGMENTS AND A COPAIBA RESIN.	US5888251

*We do not know if, or to what extent the term biopiracy applies to each of the holders of patents and trademarks here mentioned. However we consider questionable the patenting and registering of trademarks over plants that are traditionally used by the inghabitants of the Amazon. We invite the holders of these rights to write a comment to defend themselves.
Amazonlink.org does not accept any responsibility for possible consequences of errors or omissions in the provided information.

**Bibliography:

Taylor, Leslie. Herbal Secrets of the Rainforest. Prima Publishing, Inc.. 1998
Mahajan, J.R., and Ferreira, G.A., Ann. Acad. Brasil. Cienc., 43, 611 (1971) through Chem. Abstr., 77,. (1972)
ESTRELLA, E. Plantas Medicinales Amazônicas: Realidad y Perspectivas. Lima: TCA, 1995. 302p.
MING, L.C.; GAUDÊNCIO, P.; SANTOS, V.P. Plantas Medicinais: Uso Popular na Reserva Extrativista "Chico Mendes" - Acre. Botucatu: CEPLAN/UNESP, 1997. 165p.