Capacity-Building Intellectual Property and Traditional Knowledge

Amidst growing concerns over the continued misappropriation of TK, GRs and TCEs, stakeholders wish to take the practical and immediate steps available to them now to protect and derive benefit from these valuable resources. Such steps include using existing IP systems to the extent possible, creating policies and special legal measures, developing cultural protocols and model contracts and establishing effective institutions. These are the kinds of requests for capacity-building that WIPO receives.

WIPO's range of unique policy materials and specialized practical tools in the area of TK, TCEs and GRs - including guidelines, toolkits, training programs and databases - is in great demand, and this demand is growing and diversifying. Government officials, indigenous and local communities, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and research and cultural institutions from around the world all benefit from this capacity-building program, which draws from a wide portfolio of expertise, practical experience and collaboration in the field. The program remains rooted in the needs and expectations identified by the Organization during its 1998 and 1999 fact- finding missions.

Provided upon request, WIPO's assistance includes facilitating national and regional consultations, providing legislative and policy guidance, organizing study visits, undertaking research and offering support for awareness raising and training.

Activities: 2008-2009 Biennium

WIPO is currently supporting on the regional level, the work of:

the Caribbean Working Group of Experts, in developing a regional instrument for protecting TK, TCEs and GRs;

the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), in executing a "Traditional Knowledge Action Plan" in six Pacific Island countries, based on the "Regional Framework for the Protection of Traditional Knowledge and Expressions of Culture" that WIPO helped draft in 2002;

the 2012 Festival of the Pacific Arts, due to take place in the Solomon Islands, in developing IP guidelines and licenses; and

the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) and the Organisation de la Propriété Intellectuelle (OAPI), on developing regional instruments.

In the last few months alone, the TK program also has been active...