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Wend Wendland, “Beyond Adoption”: 14th Peter A. Jaszi Distinguished Lecture on Intellectual Property
14th Peter A. Jaszi Distinguished Lecture on Intellectual Property
Delivered by Professor Wend Wendland
Beyond Adoption: Why it Matters and What’s Next for the New WIPO Treaty on IP, Genetic Resources and Traditional Knowledge
September 25, 2025 | 6:00pm ET | In-Person and Online | NT01 Registration Requested
About the Lecture:
In his lecture, Professor Wendland will address the significance and broader implications of the new Treaty for IP policymaking and knowledge governance, including the future of traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions protection, in light of the limited number of ratifications to date and emerging resistance to the Treaty from some countries.
Professor Wend Wendland
Professor Wend Wendland is a distinguished intellectual property expert with over 35 years of experience spanning the public and private sectors. He served as Director of the Traditional Knowledge Division at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), reporting to the Global Challenges and Partnerships Sector leadership. In this role, he also held the position of Secretary of WIPO’s Intergovernmental Committee (IGC) on Intellectual Property, Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore, playing a pivotal role in norm-setting and capacity-building at the intersection of IP, biodiversity, traditional knowledge and cultural expressions
Professor Wendland was instrumental in facilitating the adoption of the landmark WIPO Treaty on Intellectual Property, Genetic Resources and Associated Traditional Knowledge in May 2024, reflecting his dedication to equitable and inclusive governance in IP. Since January 2018, Wendland has held the position of Adjunct Professor in the Faculty of Law at the University of Cape Town, South Africa, where he teaches in the Department of Commercial Law, engaging with emerging debates at the nexus of IP, human rights and sustainable development.
Prior to joining WIPO in 2008, he practiced law as a partner at Webber Wentzel—one of South Africa’s leading law firms—from 1987 to 1997. Based in Geneva during his tenure at WIPO, Wendland continues to contribute to scholarly publications, negotiations, and policy discourse, drawing on his expertise in global governance, IP strategy, and rights-based approaches to traditional knowledge stewardship.
About the Series:
PIJIP’s Distinguished Lecture on Intellectual Property Law is named in recognition of the continuing contributions of Professor Peter A. Jaszi to the study of intellectual property at WCL, in the world at large, and in particular for his lasting contributions to the elevation of the public interest in intellectual property discourse.
The Peter A. Jaszi Distinguished Lecture on Intellectual Property is supported by tax-deductible contributions to the Program on Information Justice and Intellectual Property.
