New WIPO Publications To Help Policymakers With Protection Of TK, Folklore 27/06/2017 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment For years, the intellectual property system, created to protect products of the mind including inventions, held little interest for the continually evolving ancestral culture of indigenous peoples. But the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities are now discussed in many fora, including the World Intellectual Property Organization, where the focus is how to use the IP system to protect indigenous knowledge and genetic resources from misappropriation and exploitation. And the UN organisation just issued two publications on possible ways to use the IP system to do just that.
Informal And Formal Seed Systems, Usually Enemies, Can It Be Otherwise? 27/06/2017 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Can the farmer seed system most widely used in the world, and the system of seeds produced by plant breeders certified and protected by intellectual property rights, be complementary? The question was addressed during a recent webinar organised by the Global Forum on Agricultural Research, with no easy answers. In particular, speakers mentioned several challenges, including the lack of a common agreement on what are farmers’ rights, and the inability for small farmers to register their seeds so they are protected, in particular against biopiracy.
Where There Is A Will There Is A Way: Speakers At WIPO Event Discuss Indigenous Knowledge Protection 22/06/2017 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment An event held on the side of the World Intellectual Property Organization committee on traditional knowledge meeting last week looked at ways to move discussions forward in the light of the committee’s expected renewed mandate. Speakers explored different perspectives and possible new avenues for indigenous and local communities to protect and manage their knowledge and cultural heritage, without the threat of misappropriation.
WIPO TK Committee Agrees To Continue Work, But Real Outcome Depends On October Assembly 19/06/2017 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments A recommendation to continue the work of the World Intellectual Property Organization committee on the protection of traditional knowledge, genetic resources and folklore is on its way to the organisation’s annual General Assembly in October. However, the details of the mandate are left for the General Assembly to discuss, such as the mandate and the work programme of the committee for the next two years.
Revised Articles Protecting Folklore Head To WIPO General Assembly, For Better Or Worse 19/06/2017 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Delegations this week agreed on a revised set of draft articles aiming to protect traditional cultural expressions (folklore) from misappropriation, typically for commercial interests. However, several proposals made by the United States, some of which were supported by the European Union, were seen by others as defying the purpose of the potential treaty.
Indigenous People Ask For More Involvement in Decision Making At WIPO 15/06/2017 by Elise De Geyter for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Different representatives of indigenous people shared their views and concerns on the protection of the rights of indigenous people and local communities during a side event at the World Intellectual Property Organization this week. Speakers underlined the need of consultation of indigenous people during negotiations about their rights.
WIPO Members Consider Future Of Committee On Traditional Knowledge, Folklore 12/06/2017 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The fate of the World Intellectual Property Organization committee addressing misappropriation of the cultural heritage of indigenous peoples will be decided by the annual WIPO General Assembly in October. But the committee this week is expected to provide recommendations on its future work, on the renewal of its mandate, and whether work accomplished over the last two years can lead to a high-level negotiation on one or several treaties giving indigenous peoples increased rights over their culture.
WIPO Seminar Looks At Protection Of Folklore 12/06/2017 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The World Intellectual Property Organization committee in charge of seeking solutions to protect traditional cultural expressions (folklore) from misuse meets this week. On the eve of the meeting, a preambular seminar looked at key policy issues of such protection and if current international instruments could provide for such solutions.
REGISTER NOW! The Global Debate On Intellectual Property, Trade And Development: Past, Present and Future 05/06/2017 by Guest contributor for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The Global Debate on Intellectual Property, Trade and Development: Past, Present and Future A Conference in Honour of Pedro Roffe
WHO Asked To Square Its Position On Herbicide; EU Evaluation Seen As Flawed 31/05/2017 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Does glyphosate, better known under its brand name RoundUp, increase the risk of cancer in humans, or not? Yesterday, some World Health Organization members, while hailing a draft resolution on cancer later adopted, underlined a lack of coordination on glysophate between the WHO and its agency for cancer research. Separately, a renowned scientist sent a letter to European Commission President, Jean-Claude Juncker, saying the evaluations on the herbicide are flawed, and should be done again to safeguard public health.