Relationships between the work of the WIPO IGC and other forums

Abstract

Introduction Traditional knowledge (TK), genetic resources (GRs) and traditional cultural expressions/expressions of folklore (TCEs) have been the subject of discussion at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) since October 2000.1 The evolving concern about these matters is recognition that TK, GRs (and their associated TK) and TCEs (including TK) have developed increased economic, scientific, cultural and commercial values, and that intellectual property is increasingly relevant and important to their protection and exploitation.2 WIPO’s first tentative step in this area was to convene the Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore (IGC) in 2001.3 Since then there have been deliberations over thirty-two sessions with the first twelve sessions until 2008 reaching no consensus about any of the identified issues.4