2. Conceptual Perspectives on Biodiversity, Traditional Knowledge, Intellectual Property, and the Protection of Indigenous Peoples in International Law

2014 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-37
Author(s):  
Caroline Joan S. Picart ◽  
Caroline Joan S. Picart ◽  
Marlowe Fox

Abstract In Part I of this two-part article, we explained why western assumptions built into intellectual property law make this area of law a problematic tool, as a way of protecting traditional knowledge (tk) and expressions of folklore (EoF) or traditional cultural expressions (tce) of indigenous peoples. Part II of this article aims to: 1) provide a brief review of the Convention on Biological Diversity (cbd) and the Nagoya Protocol, and examine the evolution of the intellectual property rights of indigenous peoples from the Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property (trips Agreement) to the cbd to the Nagoya Protocol; and 2) examine possible core principles, inducted (rather than deduced) from actual practices already in place in the areas of patents, copyrights, and trademarks in relation to protecting tk and EoF. These explorations could allow for discussions regarding indigenous peoples, human rights and international trade law to become less adversarial.


2013 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 319-339 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caroline Joan S. Picart ◽  
Caroline Joan S. Picart ◽  
Marlowe Fox

Abstract This article is the first part of a two-part piece, which considers the intellectual property rights of indigenous peoples. After establishing pragmatic working definitions of who “indigenous peoples” are and what folklore (or “traditional cultural expression”) is, as compared with, but dialectically related to, “traditional knowledge,” this article does the following: 1) explains why western assumptions built into intellectual property law make this area of law a problematic tool for protecting traditional knowledge (TK) and expressions of folklore (EoF) or traditional cultural expressions (TCE) of indigenous peoples; and 2) creates a general sketch of human rights related legal instruments that could be and have been harnessed, with varying degrees of success, in the protection of the intellectual property of indigenous peoples.


Author(s):  
Susy Frankel

This chapter situates the claims for protection of traditional knowledge in the international intellectual property (IP) context. Drawing on examples, it discusses the meaning of “traditional knowledge” and how the goals and means of protecting that knowledge do not fit within the framework of IP law. In order to address the overlap with IP and provide protection against misuse of traditional knowledge, a number of international bodies have been involved in negotiations and treaty drafting. The chapter discusses those developments, and concludes that even though international resolution looks unlikely in the short-term, the protection of traditional knowledge will continue to feature in international IP debates until a minimum level of agreement at least reached. In order to attain such agreement, there needs to be relevant national laws and, as a practical matter, sufficient investment in the innovation of traditional knowledge in order to deliver the value of protection to its holders.


Author(s):  
Stoll Tobias

This chapter looks at the specific right to intellectual property and technologies in Article 31. Article 31 sets out a number of rights of indigenous peoples relating to their science, technology, and culture, and calls for State action in this regard, which is to be taken with the involvement of those peoples. The provision relates to three different subject matters, between which there obviously exists quite some overlap. It refers, first, to ‘cultural heritage, traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions’. Second, it refers to ‘intellectual property’ over such heritage, knowledge, and expressions, and third, to ‘manifestations of…sciences, technologies and cultures’ — representative examples of which find themselves included in an illustrative list. According to Article 31, with a view to each of these subject matters, indigenous peoples have a right to ‘maintain, control, protect and develop’.


2008 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 201-221 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saskia Vermeylen ◽  
George Martin ◽  
Roland Clift

The mounting loss of the traditional knowledge of indigenous peoples presents environmental as well as ethical issues. Fundamental among these is the sustainability of indigenous societies and their ecosystems. Although the commercial expropriation of traditional knowledge grows, rooted in a global, corporate application of intellectual property rights (IPRs), the survival of indigenous societies becomes more problematic. One reason for this is an unresolved conflict between two perspectives. In the modernist view, traditional knowledge is a tool to use (or discard) for the development of indigenous society, and therefore it must be subordinated to Western science. Alternatively, in the postmodernist view, it is harmonious with nature, providing a new paradigm for human ecology, and must be preserved intact. We argue that this encumbering polarization can be allayed by shifting from a dualism of traditional and scientific knowledge to an assemblage of local knowledge, which is constituted by the interaction of both in a third space. We argue that IPR can be reconfigured to become the framework for creating such a third space.


2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (3.30) ◽  
pp. 99
Author(s):  
Al-Hanisham Mohd Khalid ◽  
Rohaida Nordi ◽  
Safinaz Mohd Hussein

Conserving indigenous knowledge (IK) has long been discussed in international fore for more than five decade. The core issues is there is unanimity among scholars, governments, indigenous peoples and local communities on whether and how issue of IK could be harmonise within intellectual property rights law framework particularly copyrights. This paper aims to highlight the issues of conserving indigenous knowledge since indigenous knowledge does not belong to one generation but all generations. Discussion will embark on from the perspective of intellectual property jurisprudence through the works of Henry Reynolds, James Tully and Will Kymlicka. The outcome of this paper demonstrates promising thought into the role of intergeneration justice in protecting indigenous peoples in Malaysia. It is the contention of this paper that perhaps such conditions could apply to traditional knowledge too in addressing the plight of indigenous peoples. 


Author(s):  
Ulia Popova-Gosart

During the past two decades, the search for an appropriate mechanism to protect ‘traditional knowledge’ has been a subject of discourse among international law and policies agents, actors of global trade, academia, environmentalists, and the indigenous-rights activists. Within the framework of international law, the discussion went into two main directions: protection of knowledge products, and protection of rights over knowledge resources as a part of a movement to preserve vitality and diversity of indigenous cultures.


2019 ◽  
Vol 113 ◽  
pp. 439-443

The 2019 Jessup Problem concerns four issues: (1) the responsibility of states with respect to the conduct of a corporate national; (2) the protection of migratory species; (3) the rights to culture and religion; and (4) the rights of indigenous peoples to benefit from their traditional knowledge. The Applicant (Aurok) and the Respondent (Rakkab) are two neighboring states. Aurok is a small, least-developed, landlocked country. Rakkab is larger and has a multi-ethnic population of roughly 4.5 million.


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