Multinational firms were exploiting intellectual wealth and biodiversity from the two continents to claim property rights for development and inventions, Panja said at a two-day workshop on intellectual property rights (IPRs) here.

This was clearly piracy which had to be fought jointly by countries from Asia and Africa, Panja told a workshop for Asian and African countries organised by government of India and World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO).

Developing countries with limited resources found it difficult to pursue IPRs piracy cases in courts and with patent authorities in western countries, he added.

India with sustained efforts was able to successfully stall efforts by multinational companies to claim patent for basmati rice and turmeric in united states, Panja said.

Stressing the need to revamp legal infrastructure for IPR and documentation of homegrown knowledge, Panja said it would help provide legal protection for the country's intellectual wealth and recognise domestic efforts to improve upon traditional IPR.