The protection of intellectual property rights (IPR) is relation
to traditional knowledge has been suffering from many problems
worldwide and greater international cooperation is required to
identify a solution.
Those were the views shared by participants attending the
inter-regional seminar on traditional knowledge, cultural
expressions and genetic resources of the World Intellectual
Property Organization (WIPO) held in Zhengzhou, capital of Central
China's Henan Province.
Atop the list of problems are disagreements between developed
and developing nations over the terminology of traditional
knowledge and the detailed provisions for protection.
The Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and
Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore, also known
as IGC, was established by the WIPO at the request of developing
countries in 2001, said Wang Binying, WIPO Assistant Director
General.
As an international policy forum the IGC discusses intellectual
property issues as they arise in relation to the protection of
traditional knowledge and cultural expressions (sometimes termed
folklore), access to genetic resources and benefit sharing.
But the IGC appears to have got bogged down by a marathon-style
drafting of a legally binding international treaty since 2004. Up
to now it has achieved little due to disagreements between
developed and developing countries over the text of the protection
provisions, said IGC chairman I Gusti Agung Wesaka Puja, who is
also Indonesian ambassador in Geneva.
WIPO Deputy Director, General Michael S. Keplinger, said they
hoped member nations would make concerted efforts so a framework
could be formed to protect of IPR concerning traditional
knowledge.
Wang Binying, WIPO Assistant Director General, highlighted low
awareness of protection via patented rights, the value of
preserving tangible materials but also the belittling of IPR
protection of intangible assets as two other problems in the
protection of traditional knowledge.
"The success of protection of IPR for traditional knowledge lies
in patience, diligence and sincerity," said the IGC chairman.
The three-day inter-regional seminar on traditional knowledge,
traditional cultural expressions and genetic resources of the WIPO
was attended by specialists from 40 countries and representatives
of a number of international organizations.
During the seminar participants discussed cases concerning
misappropriation and piracy of traditional knowledge, folklore and
exchanged views on how to improve things. The seminar closed on
Friday.
(Xinhua News Agency December 18, 2006)