The World Intellectual Property Organization has scheduled a workshop in December to teach indigenous peoples the value of the intellectual property system in protecting their knowledge and resources.
The "Practical workshop for Indigenous Peoples and local communities on IP and traditional knowledge" will be held on 4-6 December. Two representatives from each geographical region can attend and applications must be submitted by 15 September.
According to WIPO, the objectives of the workshop are to:
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impart basic knowledge of the main principles of the intellectual property (IP) system from a traditional knowledge (TK) perspective, emphasizing both the potential value that IP could bring in support of TK protection and the gaps within the IP system that might need to be filled;
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explain the rationale, objectives and methodology of the negotiations that are taking place in the WIPO Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore;
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raise awareness of the available IP tools and WIPO materials that are relevant to the protection of TK.
It is unclear whether stakeholders agree that the existing IP system is ideal for protecting indigenous knowledge or if a new form of IP right might be more suitable.
WIPO members have been in a contentious negotiation over possible international legal instruments for the protection of genetic resources, traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions. The issue was negotiated in committee during the past year but had to be left for the late September annual WIPO General Assembly (IPW, WIPO, 25 July 2013).
Meanwhile, indigenous groups have voiced a different view on how they would like to protect what they see as their heritage (IPW, Traditional and Indigenous Knowledge, 20 August 2013).
(Source: IP Watch)
