After the failure to agree on work to be done by the World Intellectual Property Organization committee on genetic resources and traditional knowledge at the last general assembly, and a barren calendar of meetings on the subject, WIPO is organising a seminar aimed at sharing regional, national and local experiences.
The seminar on intellectual property and genetic resources, traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions: regional, national, and local experiences will take place from 30 March-1 April.
Four roundtables are on the programme of the seminar: Experiences with National Systems for the Protection of Traditional Knowledge and Traditional Cultural Expressions; Commercial and Non-Commercial Uses of Traditional Knowledge and Traditional Cultural Expressions – Examples and Lessons Learned; Regional, National and Local Experiences with the Meaning and Relevance of the “Public Domain” in the Context of Traditional Knowledge and Traditional Cultural Expressions; and National Experiences with Disclosure Requirements related to Genetic Resources and Associated Traditional Knowledge.
According to WIPO, the government of Australia provided financing to cover the cost of participation of capital-based delegates from developing countries. The event agenda lists Australian Aid alongside the WIPO logo.
After a series of unsuccessful meetings of the Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore (IGC) on how to proceed and in particular on the nature of the instrument that may protect genetic resources, traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions, at the last WIPO General Assembly, member states were unable to agree on a work programme for 2015 (IPW, WIPO, 1 October 2014).
According to some sources, discussions relating to the IGC are being carried out among member states, in particular on the renewal of the mandate of the committee due to be renewed at the next WIPO General Assembly in September.
Image Credits: Flickr – Dag Terje Filip Endresen
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