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WIPO Member States Discuss Intellectual Propertyand Genetic Resources Issues

Geneva, April 19, 2000
Press Updates UPD/2000/96

Member states of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), meeting in Geneva from April 17 and 18, 2000, held a series of intensive discussions on intellectual property issues relating to genetic resources. Topics discussed included access to genetic resources, benefit sharing and the possible impact of these on patent law, protection of traditional knowledge, access to and transfer of technology and technical and scientific cooperation.

The emergence of knowledge-based models of economic development has fuelled a growing interest in tradition-based innovation and creativity. At the request of its member states, WIPO has, since 1998, been actively exploring the possible role of the intellectual property system in protecting biological diversity and traditional knowledge.

In a concluding statement, the Chairman of the meeting on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Mr. Weerawit Weeraworawit, Deputy Director General of the Department of Intellectual Property, Ministry of Commerce, Bangkok, reflected the broad consensus of delegates on a number of key issues. An excerpt of his statement follows:

  • The issue of genetic resources and intellectual property is not a North-South issue, but a matter of great importance and concern to all the Member States of WIPO. It has to be approached by considering all the relevant and related issues.


  • The issues of access to genetic resources, biodiversity, protection of traditional knowledge and expressions of folklore, access to and transfer of technology, scientific and technical cooperation in the preservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, benefit sharing and the relationship with international treaties on intellectual property are complex and inter-related. Consequently, they should be tackled in a comprehensive manner, drawing on the existing works and expertise of WIPO and the other concerned international organizations.


  • Intellectual property has an indispensable role in the formulation of an internationally acceptable regime on the above-mentioned issues.


  • WIPO should facilitate the continuation of consultations among Member States in coordination with the other concerned international organizations, through the conduct of appropriate legal and technical studies, and through the setting up of an appropriate forum within WIPO for future work.


  • The issue of access to genetic and biological resources helps contribute to the momentum of the ongoing consultative process on the new global issues of folklore, traditional knowledge, genetic resources and biodiversity, so it merits in-depth and intensive study and discussion taking into account all other relevant factors.

The meeting mandated the WIPO secretariat to prepare a questionnaire on the legal practices of member states concerning the broad range of issues covered during the talks in order to collect relevant information and prepare an overview paper. It was also agreed that a report of the meeting would be sent by WIPO to the Conference of the Parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity, which will meet in Nairobi, in May 2000.

For additional information, please contact the Media Relations and Public Affairs Section at WIPO:

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