The IGC continues to work towards international legal instrument(s) ensuring balanced and effective protection of genetic resources (GRs), traditional knowledge (TK) and traditional cultural expressions (TCEs), following the adoption of the WIPO Treaty on Intellectual Property, Genetic Resources and Associated Traditional Knowledge (GRATK treaty). Current discussions remain centered on addressing the misappropriation of TK and TCEs through the IP system, and the recognition of rights grounded in customary law of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs). Additional issues include the creation of new or adapted IP protection mechanisms of a collective nature, possible disclosure requirements in patent applications, and the degree of flexibility and policy space for national implementation versus minimum binding standards.
The full report is available here: https://knowledgegov.org/igc-background-next-meeting-and-key-issues-to-be-considered/
