Session of July 3, 2009 the WIPO Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual property, genetic resources, traditional knowledge and folklore (IC) was focused on the renew of the IC mandate for the biennial 2010-2011. A group of the African countries proposed the future meetings of the IC to include negotiations on specific texts and to adopt one or more legal international instruments which provide protection to these much disputed intellectual property objects. During the prolonged debates on this proposal, as well as those submitted by the European Union, Australia, Mexico etc. various positions across the key issues have become clearer.

Summarizing the discussions at the end of the meeting, the Intergovernmental Committee chairman, His Excellency, Ambassador Rigoberto Gauto Vielman, noted that the WIPO General Assembly will examin the question of the future mandate of the Intergovernmental Panel at its meeting on September 2009.

WIPO Intergovernmental Committee activity for intellectual property, genetic resources, traditional knowledge and folklore, which officially began in 2000 as a result of the decision of WIPO Member States of establishing the Committee, is distinguished mainly by the contribution and the preponderant role of indigenous and local communities in examination of the issues related to creating an effective system of protection of these important subjects for the local communities across the globe that hold genetic resources, traditional knowledge and folklore, which often are used to the detriment of indigenous. The current session at the IC was accredited with 14 new NGOs.

Details: http://www.wipo.int/pressroom/en/articles/2009/article_0019.html