Eighth Session, Geneva, 6-10 June 2005
The eighth session of the World Intellectual Property Organisation ("WIPO") Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore ("the IGC") took place in Geneva, 6-10 June 2005.
The Committee continued its work on the development of policy objectives and principles for the protection of traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions and considered revised texts on these issues (available from the WIPO website). The IGC also considered draft guidelines on the recognition of traditional knowledge in the examination of patent applications. The first half-day of the meeting was dedicated to indigenous perspectives with panel presentations from indigenous people around the world.
The revised documents (8/4 and 8/5) on policy objectives and core principles contained draft provisions which set out substantive standards which could potentially provided the content of international standards for the protection of traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions. Document 8/6 considered the issue of linkage between international and domestic dimensions.
Comments on these documents from New Zealand stakeholders were called for by 4 February 2005, later extended to 26 May 2005. The information in the Have Your Say document was prepared for the 4 February 2005 deadline.
A number of useful papers [link to WIPO website] were prepared by the Secretariat to the IGC that aided consideration of these issues.
Copies of papers and reports from previous meetings [link to WIPO website] are also available on the WIPO site, along with a selection of interesting resources. The site also provides information on how to become a non-governmental accredited observer [link to WIPO website].
If you have any queries about the IGC or New Zealand's participation in this forum please contact Kim Connolly-Stone at the Ministry of Economic Development: traditional.knowledge@med.govt.nz or phone 04-474 2751.
Have Your Say
Originally prepared to help comments on documents that were considered at the IGC's Eighth Session. Consultation closed 4 February 2005, but this was later extended to 26 May 2005.
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