WIPO Roundtable on IP &WIPO Roundtable on IP &Traditional KnowledgeTraditional Knowledge

Geneva, November 1-2, 1999Geneva, November 1-2, 1999

Protection of Protection of Traditional Traditional

Knowledge: A Global Knowledge: A Global IP IssueIP Issue

Presenter: Presenter: Richard Owens, DirectorRichard Owens, DirectorGlobal Intellectual Property Issues DivisionGlobal Intellectual Property Issues Division

Overview of the GIPID Overview of the GIPID Program: 1998-2001Program: 1998-2001

IPR's for New Beneficiaries: the IPR's for New Beneficiaries: the Protection of Traditional Knowledge, Protection of Traditional Knowledge, Innovations & CreativityInnovations & Creativity

Biodiversity & BiotechnologyBiodiversity & Biotechnology Protection of Expressions of FolkloreProtection of Expressions of Folklore Intellectual Property & DevelopmentIntellectual Property & Development

Traditional Knowledge and Traditional Knowledge and Intellectual PropertyIntellectual Property

What is Traditional Knowledge (TK) ?

Customary Protection of TK

Problems Confronting TK Holders

Why is Protection of TK Important ?

Intellectual Property and TK - WIPO’s Response

What is Traditional What is Traditional Knowledge?Knowledge?

Collective responsibility &

ownership

Transmitted orally across generations

Medicinal, Agricultural& Ecological Knowledge

Music & Dance,Stories & Poetry

Spiritual ExpressionArtesanat (Handicrafts)

Constantly evolving

TK: A Multi-Faceted TK: A Multi-Faceted ConceptConcept

Tradition-based

CreationsSpiritual &

Religious Beliefs

Aesthetics (Art,

Entertainment)

Educationhistory, traditions, ethicsCultural

Identity

Practical Knowledge

Oral Tradition

Emphasis on Community

Protecting TK: What are Protecting TK: What are the Benefitsthe Benefits

Increases opportunities

for socio-economic

development

Provides rights for TK holders

Preserves knowledge base of communities

Creates added value for humankind

Provides opportunities for sharing benefits of TK

Enables participation in global markets

Customary Protection of Customary Protection of TKTK

Monitored & enforced by elders, spiritual and religious leaders

Informal regimes govern the use & transmission of TK at community level through rules, rights & obligations

Customary law results from repeated practices

IP Protection of TKIP Protection of TK

Traditional Knowledge is contemporary: a continuing response by individuals and

communities to challenges posed by their environment

Documentation & preservation of TK

Promote & disseminate creativity & innovation

IP Protection

The Challenge …..The Challenge …..

IP mechanisms do not cover

non- systematic, undocumented

knowledge

Customary law is not applicable outside the community

Problems Confronting Problems Confronting TK HoldersTK Holders

Rejection of tradition by new generation and encroachment of modern lifestyles

“Modern” science may deem traditional knowledge inferior

Dilution of traditional knowledge and practices through acculturation and diffusion

Commercial exploitation by “others”, e.g. bioprospecting, use of indigenous designs

……. in search of a . in search of a modelmodel

Need to find common ground

IP system

TraditionalKnowledge

A global assessment of needs & expectations of TK holders

WIPO’s ResponseWIPO’s Response

Roundtable on IP & indigenous peoples (1998)Roundtable on IP & indigenous peoples (1998) 9 FFMs on TK, innovations & creativity9 FFMs on TK, innovations & creativity Panel discussion on IP & human rights (1998)Panel discussion on IP & human rights (1998) 4 regional consultations on protection of folklore4 regional consultations on protection of folklore Roundtable on IP and TK (1999)Roundtable on IP and TK (1999) Participation in international processes: CBD, Participation in international processes: CBD,

FAO, UNESCO, etc.FAO, UNESCO, etc. Cooperation with IGOs & NGOsCooperation with IGOs & NGOs Integration into WIPO’s development for Integration into WIPO’s development for

cooperation activitiescooperation activities

WIPO Fact-Finding WIPO Fact-Finding MissionsMissions

North America

South America

Central America

Caribbean Countries

South Asia

South Pacific

Arab Countries

West Africa Southern & Eastern Africa

9 Fact Finding Missions9 Fact Finding Missions

… TO EXPLORE/IDENTIFY IP NEEDS/EXPECTATIONS OF TK

HOLDERS

… TO STUDY CURRENT APPROACHES & FUTURE

POSSIBILITIES FOR PROTECTION OF TK

FINDINGS REPATRIATED TO TK

HOLDERS

WIPO FFM FindingsWIPO FFM Findings

Common to all countries

TK systems are frameworks for continuing creativity & innovation

TK is a constantly renewed source of

wealth

All branches of IP law are relevant to TK

Regional Consultations: Regional Consultations: Protection of Expressions of Protection of Expressions of

FolkloreFolklore

RecommendationsRecommendations: : expansion of expansion of WIPO workplan (nat’l, regional & WIPO workplan (nat’l, regional &

int’l activities):int’l activities):A) Legal/Technical assistance

B) Training in folklore documentation

C) Financial support for nat’l & regional institutions

D) Work toward effective international regime to protect expressions of folklore

Africa: March

‘99

Asia-Pacific:

April ‘99

LAC:June ‘99

Arab Region:May ‘99

Expanding relevance of the Expanding relevance of the IP System to TK HoldersIP System to TK Holders

Global Information Global Information SocietySociety

Form

al

Info

rma

l

Increasing cultural &economic value of TK

Growing relevance of IPRs

… … future workfuture work

ISSUES/NEEDS IDENTIFICATION

ADDRESSING CONCEPTUAL PROBLEMS;

TESTING PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS

2000-2001 PROGRAM:a) case studies on use of IP system to protect TKb) study on customary law governing TK in relation to formal IP systemsc) information exchange on IP implications of TK documentationd) increased training and awareness-raising worldwide for TK stakeholders

WIPO Roundtable on IP &WIPO Roundtable on IP &Traditional KnowledgeTraditional Knowledge

Geneva, November 1-2, 1999Geneva, November 1-2, 1999

Protection of Protection of Traditional Traditional

Knowledge: A Global Knowledge: A Global IP IssueIP Issue

Presenter: Presenter: Richard Owens, DirectorRichard Owens, DirectorGlobal Intellectual Property Issues DivisionGlobal Intellectual Property Issues Division