[A2k] Article on Traditional cures meet intellectual property rights

[Manon Ress]

This story refers to WIPO's Intergovernmental Committee on
Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge
and Folklore.  The "IGC" which met for the first time in 2001 (after
years of fact finding missions and reports) is, according to WIPO,
discussing draft provisions for the protection of TK and traditional
cultural expressions against misappropriation and misuse.
See WIPO at: http://www.wipo.int/tk/en/
Manon


Traditional cures meet intellectual property rights

     *   18:26 27 November 2006
     * NewScientist.com news service
     * Catherine Brahic

http://www.newscientisttech.com/article.ns?id=3Ddn10667&feedId=3Donline-
news_rss20

Traditional plant-based cures and therapies should be protected from
exploitation by rich companies, and indigenous peoples should be
fully involved in decisions about the legal status of generations-old
knowledge.

These comments, from the International Institute for Environment and
Development (IIED), come three days ahead of new discussions hosted
by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

The goal of the meeting is to come up with an international, legally-
binding framework to protect such things as indigenous communities=92
rights to the therapeutic properties of plants found in the Amazonian
rainforest.

Krystyna Swiderska of IIED told New Scientist that the
representatives taking part in these discussions do not belong to the
indigenous communities, and largely live in developed countries. They
are therefore not in the best position to negotiate on their behalf,
she says.

Abstract knowledge

Swiderska and colleagues would like WIPO to allow members of
traditional communities to participate in negotiations on the same
standing as government representatives. =93At WIPO, indigenous peoples
have to wait until the end to say their bit,=94 she explains.

Traditional knowledge is being addressed in an abstract way, and has
been divorced from its cultural and ecological context, Swiderska says.

=93For instance, WIPO discussions are focussing on the knowledge
itself, the intellectual, intangible knowledge." But from the
perspective of traditional communities, "you can=92t separate that
knowledge from the biological resources to which the knowledge
relates=94, she explains.

The Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic
Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore kicks off in Geneva,
Switzerland, on Thursday.

=93Things are moving very, very slowly,=94 Swiderska says, =93but they are
moving in the right direction.=94


************************************************
Manon Anne Ress
manon.ress@cptech.org,
www.cptech.org

Consumer Project on Technology
1621 Connecticut Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20009 USA
Tel.:  +1.202.332.2670, Ext 16 Fax: +1.202.332.2673

Consumer Project on Technology
1 Route des  Morillons, CP 2100, 1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland
Tel: +41 22 791 6727

Consumer Project on Technology
24 Highbury Crescent, London, N5 1RX, UK
Tel: +44(0)207 226 6663 ex 252 Fax: +44(0)207 354 0607