Dino: Rendang Cannot be Patented

Former Indonesian ambassador to the US Dino Patti Djalal said thatrendang, an Indonesian traditional cuisine that according to a CNN poll is one of the world’s scrumptious dishes, could not be patented.

“The food cannot be patented like another cultural heritage of our country, the Indonesian language,” he said at the recent Luvinary Indonesia Adventure press conference at a hotel in Thamrin area, Jakarta, on Wednesday.

He said the nation’s culinary heritages needed to be preserved but did not necessarily have to be patented.

“Don’t ever be afraid that Indonesian culinary treasures, such as rendang, will be stolen by other countries,” he said.

Dino also appealed to the people to continue promoting Indonesian culinary so the world could acknowledge it without its being patented.

“We need to promote and popularize it. We have to be proud [of our culinary heritages] and introduce them to the world,” he said. 

Source : Tempo