Traditional Knowledge, Genetic Resources, and Folklore/Traditional Cultural Expressions

Geneva, July 23, 2014

A twice-yearly and informal bulletin for those with an interest in the work of WIPO and worldwide news and publications on intellectual property (IP) and traditional knowledge (TK), genetic resources (GRs) and traditional cultural expressions (TCEs).

WIPO Intergovernmental Committee

The Twenty-Sixth session of the Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore (IGC) took place from February 3 to 7, 2014. Participants from 111 Member States, the European Union and 63 observers concluded the session with a cleaner and more focused draft text of an international legal instrument on IP and GRs. At the close of the session, the draft text was transmitted to the WIPO General Assembly taking place in September 2014, subject to any agreed adjustments or modifications arising on cross-cutting issues at the Twenty-Eighth session of the Committee, taking place in July 2014. All documents for IGC 26 are available online.

The IGC met again from March 24 to April 4, 2014, to discuss the themes of TK and TCEs. It was attended by participants from 100 Member States, the European Union and 42 observers. The session incorporated segments for the consideration of cross-cutting TK/TCE issues and concluded with improved draft texts of an international legal instrument(s) on IP and TK, as well as IP and TCEs, respectively. In accordance with the decision of the Committee, these separate draft texts were transmitted to the WIPO General Assembly taking place in September 2014, subject to any agreed adjustments or modifications arising on cross-cutting issues at the Twenty-Eighth session of the Committee, taking place in July 2014. All documents for IGC 27 are available online.

The IGC met again from July 7 to 9, 2014. Pursuant to the 2014-2015 mandate and the decisions of the Committee, taken in IGC 26 and IGC 27, delegates at the Twenty-Eighth Session of the Committee engaged in cross-cutting discussions across the Committee’s three themes: GRs, TK and TCEs. Delegates also took stock of progress and discussed future work proposals. All documents for IGC 28 are available online. At the close of the session, the Committee confirmed that the text on IP and GRs, as well as the respective draft articles on TK and TCEs, as developed during the 26^th and 27^thsessions of the Committee respectively, be transmitted to the 2014 WIPO General Assembly without any further adjustments or modifications arising from the cross-cutting discussions during IGC 28. The Committee also decided that statements made by Delegations, regarding the future work of the Committee, be transmitted to the 2014 General Assembly, for its consideration. A total of 101 Member States, as well as the European Union and 38 observers, participated in IGC 28.

New WIPO Publication

The following background brief is now available on the WIPO website:

- Brief No. 8: Alternative Dispute Resolution for Disputes Related to Intellectual Property and Traditional Knowledge, Traditional Cultural Expressions and Genetic Resources.

The above background brief can also be found on the WIPO Scribd page.

Past WIPO Events and Activities

The WIPO Secretariat participated in the Third Meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Intergovernmental Committee for the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-Sharing (ICNP-3), which took place in Pyeongchang, Republic of Korea, from February 24 to 28, 2014. The ICNP was established as an interim governing body for the Nagoya Protocol and will cease to exist after the entry into force of the Nagoya Protocol, now expected to be October 12, 2014. Amongst others, participants at the ICNP-3 exchanged views on outstanding issues relating to the implementation of the Nagoya Protocol, including the modalities of a global multilateral benefit-sharing mechanism as well as the modalities for the operation of the ABS Clearing House. At the meeting, the WIPO Secretariat organized a side event to update participants on the recent developments within the WIPO IGC.

The WIPO Secretariat was invited to an informal consultative meeting, organized by the Government of Indonesia, from March 10 to 12, 2014, in Bali, Indonesia. The meeting was held to deliberate on the issues for consideration at the Twenty-Seventh session of the WIPO IGC.

From March 10 to 14, 2014, the WIPO Secretariat participated in the 8^thPan-African Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) Workshop, which was held in Cotonou, Benin. The Workshop, organized by the ABS Initiative, sought to update participants on international and regional processes related to ABS as well as discuss and exchange practical experiences on the elaboration of national ABS strategies, amongst others. The WIPO Secretariat provided an update to participants on the recent developments within the WIPO IGC, and also provided briefings on the WIPO Documentation Toolkit to participants who were interested in the documentation of TK.

The WIPO Secretariat organized, in cooperation with the Secretariat of the CBD and the Indigenous Information Network (IIN), a Regional Workshop for the African Region on Intellectual Property Issues Related to Traditional Knowledge. The workshop took place in Nairobi, Kenya, on March 29, 2014.

The WIPO Secretariat participated in the Thirteenth Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII), which took place in New York, United States of America, from May 12 to 23, 2014. The UNPFII, an advisory body to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), provides advice and recommendations on indigenous issues to ECOSOC and other agencies of the United Nations, including WIPO. At the Session, the WIPO Secretariat organized a side event which highlighted the important relationship between intellectual property and the protection of traditional knowledge.

Within the framework of the 3^rdRegional Meeting of the IUCN-UNEP/GEF ABS LAC Project, which took place in Bogota, Colombia from May 20 to 22, 2014, the WIPO Secretariat organized, in cooperation with the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and the Ministry of the Environment and Sustainable Development, Colombia, a full day workshop on IP issues related to access and benefit sharing, on May 21, 2014.

The WIPO Secretariat participated in the Regional Capacity-Building Workshop for Asia on Traditional Knowledge and Customary Sustainable Use under the CBD, which took place in Chiang Mai, Thailand, from June 2 to 7, 2014. Back-to-back with this meeting, the WIPO Secretariat organized, in cooperation with the Secretariat of the CBD, the Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP) and the Tebtebba Foundation, a Regional Workshop on Intellectual Property Issues Related to Traditional Knowledge, on June 1, 2014.

The WIPO Secretariat was invited to participate in the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA) Economic Cooperation Work Program (ECWP) Policy Workshop on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources and Traditional Knowledge, which took place from June 2 to 7, 2014, in Jakarta, Indonesia. The workshop, hosted by the Directorate General Intellectual Property Rights (DGIPR), Indonesia, was aimed at enabling AANZFTA parties to discuss respective approaches to the protection of TK, TCEs and GRs, as well as provide a forum for the discussion of key policy issues facing countries interested in reviewing or creating policy in this area.

Worldwide News

This list of news is informal and not exhaustive. It has been compiled from publicly available and general news sources. The items listed are not connected with WIPO in any way, unless stated otherwise.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) cancels the trademark “Redskins” for Washington’s NFL franchise on the basis of the name being “disparaging to Native Americans”   more>>

Sweden returns, to Peru, the Shroud of Gothenburg, an ancient Peruvian funeral shroud dating back to the pre-Inca period   more>>

The European Union adopts decision approving the ratification of the Nagoya Protocol   more>>

Nagoya Protocol receives the required number of ratifications and will enter into force on October 12, 2014     more>>

IP law secures Zulu brand    more>>

For further information…

For general requests for information about WIPO’s program activities concerning IP and TK, GRs, and TCEs and related issues, please fill out this form.

To remove your email address from this mailing list or to add an email address, please go to: http://www.wipo.int/lists/subscribe/globalissues-en



Traditional Knowledge, Genetic Resources, and Folklore/Traditional Cultural Expressions Geneva, July 23, 2014 A twice-yearly and informal bulletin for those with an interest in the work of WIPO and worldwide news and publications on intellectual property (IP) and traditional knowledge (TK), genetic resources (GRs) and traditional cultural expressions (TCEs). WIPO Intergovernmental Committee The Twenty-Sixth session of the Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore (IGC) took place from February 3 to 7, 2014. Participants from 111 Member States, the European Union and 63 observers concluded the session with a cleaner and more focused draft text of an international legal instrument on IP and GRs. At the close of the session, the draft text was transmitted to the WIPO General Assembly taking place in September 2014, subject to any agreed adjustments or modifications arising on cross-cutting issues at the Twenty-Eighth session of the Committee, taking place in July 2014. All documents for IGC 26 are available online. The IGC met again from March 24 to April 4, 2014, to discuss the themes of TK and TCEs. It was attended by participants from 100 Member States, the European Union and 42 observers. The session incorporated segments for the consideration of cross-cutting TK/TCE issues and concluded with improved draft texts of an international legal instrument(s) on IP and TK, as well as IP and TCEs, respectively. In accordance with the decision of the Committee, these separate draft texts were transmitted to the WIPO General Assembly taking place in September 2014, subject to any agreed adjustments or modifications arising on cross-cutting issues at the Twenty-Eighth session of the Committee, taking place in July 2014. All documents for IGC 27 are available online. The IGC met again from July 7 to 9, 2014. Pursuant to the 2014-2015 mandate and the decisions of the Committee, taken in IGC 26 and IGC 27, delegates at the Twenty-Eighth Session of the Committee engaged in cross-cutting discussions across the Committee’s three themes: GRs, TK and TCEs. Delegates also took stock of progress and discussed future work proposals. All documents for IGC 28 are available online. At the close of the session, the Committee confirmed that the text on IP and GRs, as well as the respective draft articles on TK and TCEs, as developed during the 26^th and 27^thsessions of the Committee respectively, be transmitted to the 2014 WIPO General Assembly without any further adjustments or modifications arising from the cross-cutting discussions during IGC 28. The Committee also decided that statements made by Delegations, regarding the future work of the Committee, be transmitted to the 2014 General Assembly, for its consideration. A total of 101 Member States, as well as the European Union and 38 observers, participated in IGC 28. New WIPO Publication The following background brief is now available on the WIPO website: - Brief No. 8: Alternative Dispute Resolution for Disputes Related to Intellectual Property and Traditional Knowledge, Traditional Cultural Expressions and Genetic Resources. The above background brief can also be found on the WIPO Scribd page. Past WIPO Events and Activities The WIPO Secretariat participated in the Third Meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Intergovernmental Committee for the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-Sharing (ICNP-3), which took place in Pyeongchang, Republic of Korea, from February 24 to 28, 2014. The ICNP was established as an interim governing body for the Nagoya Protocol and will cease to exist after the entry into force of the Nagoya Protocol, now expected to be October 12, 2014. Amongst others, participants at the ICNP-3 exchanged views on outstanding issues relating to the implementation of the Nagoya Protocol, including the modalities of a global multilateral benefit-sharing mechanism as well as the modalities for the operation of the ABS Clearing House. At the meeting, the WIPO Secretariat organized a side event to update participants on the recent developments within the WIPO IGC. The WIPO Secretariat was invited to an informal consultative meeting, organized by the Government of Indonesia, from March 10 to 12, 2014, in Bali, Indonesia. The meeting was held to deliberate on the issues for consideration at the Twenty-Seventh session of the WIPO IGC. From March 10 to 14, 2014, the WIPO Secretariat participated in the 8^thPan-African Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) Workshop, which was held in Cotonou, Benin. The Workshop, organized by the ABS Initiative, sought to update participants on international and regional processes related to ABS as well as discuss and exchange practical experiences on the elaboration of national ABS strategies, amongst others. The WIPO Secretariat provided an update to participants on the recent developments within the WIPO IGC, and also provided briefings on the WIPO Documentation Toolkit to participants who were interested in the documentation of TK. The WIPO Secretariat organized, in cooperation with the Secretariat of the CBD and the Indigenous Information Network (IIN), a Regional Workshop for the African Region on Intellectual Property Issues Related to Traditional Knowledge. The workshop took place in Nairobi, Kenya, on March 29, 2014. The WIPO Secretariat participated in the Thirteenth Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII), which took place in New York, United States of America, from May 12 to 23, 2014. The UNPFII, an advisory body to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), provides advice and recommendations on indigenous issues to ECOSOC and other agencies of the United Nations, including WIPO. At the Session, the WIPO Secretariat organized a side event which highlighted the important relationship between intellectual property and the protection of traditional knowledge. Within the framework of the 3^rdRegional Meeting of the IUCN-UNEP/GEF ABS LAC Project, which took place in Bogota, Colombia from May 20 to 22, 2014, the WIPO Secretariat organized, in cooperation with the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and the Ministry of the Environment and Sustainable Development, Colombia, a full day workshop on IP issues related to access and benefit sharing, on May 21, 2014. The WIPO Secretariat participated in the Regional Capacity-Building Workshop for Asia on Traditional Knowledge and Customary Sustainable Use under the CBD, which took place in Chiang Mai, Thailand, from June 2 to 7, 2014. Back-to-back with this meeting, the WIPO Secretariat organized, in cooperation with the Secretariat of the CBD, the Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP) and the Tebtebba Foundation, a Regional Workshop on Intellectual Property Issues Related to Traditional Knowledge, on June 1, 2014. The WIPO Secretariat was invited to participate in the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA) Economic Cooperation Work Program (ECWP) Policy Workshop on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources and Traditional Knowledge, which took place from June 2 to 7, 2014, in Jakarta, Indonesia. The workshop, hosted by the Directorate General Intellectual Property Rights (DGIPR), Indonesia, was aimed at enabling AANZFTA parties to discuss respective approaches to the protection of TK, TCEs and GRs, as well as provide a forum for the discussion of key policy issues facing countries interested in reviewing or creating policy in this area. Worldwide News This list of news is informal and not exhaustive. It has been compiled from publicly available and general news sources. The items listed are not connected with WIPO in any way, unless stated otherwise. The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) cancels the trademark “Redskins” for Washington’s NFL franchise on the basis of the name being “disparaging to Native Americans” more>> Sweden returns, to Peru, the Shroud of Gothenburg, an ancient Peruvian funeral shroud dating back to the pre-Inca period more>> The European Union adopts decision approving the ratification of the Nagoya Protocol more>> Nagoya Protocol receives the required number of ratifications and will enter into force on October 12, 2014 more>> IP law secures Zulu brand more>> *For further information…* For general requests for information about WIPO’s program activities concerning IP and TK, GRs, and TCEs and related issues, please fill out this form. To remove your email address from this mailing list or to add an email address, please go to: http://www.wipo.int/lists/subscribe/globalissues-en