IGC Preparation Kit (IGC 39)

The WIPO Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore (IGC) meets several times a year in Geneva. 

This page provides the most relevant documents and materials to help participants prepare for the upcoming session – including for consultations with indigenous peoples, local communities and other stakeholders.

The Thirty-Ninth Session of the IGC was held from March 18 to 22, 2019, and addressed traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions.

Shortcuts

Informal information session

At preparatory informal information sessions, the WIPO secretariat provides member state representatives in Geneva with information on the key issues under discussion at each upcoming IGC session, as well as on practical arrangements.

The informal information session for IGC 39 took place at WIPO Headquarters (Room NB 0.107) on March 7, 2019, at 10:00 a.m.

  • Presentation slides PDF, Presentation slides for IGC 39

Video: Informal information session (March 7, 2019)

Working documents

The working documents for the 39th session of the IGC are:

The Chair prepared an Information Note on Traditional Knowledge and Traditional Cultural Expressions for IGC 39. 

Key background materials

  • IGC Mandate 2018/2019 PDF, Mandate of the IGC
  • Background brief No. 1: Traditional Knowledge and Intellectual Property PDF, Background brief on Traditional Knowledge and Intellectual Property
  • Background brief No. 2: The WIPO IGC PDF, Background brief on the IGC
  • Background brief No. 3: Developing a National Strategy on IP and TK, TCEs and GRs PDF, Background brief on develoment of national strategy on IP, TK, TCEs and GRs
  • Background brief No. 4: Intellectual Property and Arts Festivals PDF, Background brief on develoment of national strategy on IP, TK, TCEs and GRs
  • Background brief No. 5: Intellectual Property and Traditional Handicrafts PDF, Background brief on Intellectual Property and Arts Festivals
  • Background brief No. 6: Intellectual Property and Traditional Medical Knowledge PDF, Background brief on Intellectual Property and Traditional Medical Knowledge
  • Background brief No. 7: Customary Law and Traditional Knowledge PDF, Background brief on Customary Law and Traditional Knowledge
  • Background brief No. 8: Alternative Dispute Resolution for Disputes Related to Intellectual Property and Traditional Knowledge, Traditional Cultural Expressions and Genetic Resources PDF, Background brief on Alternative Dispute Resolution for Disputes Related to Intellectual Property and Traditional Knowledge, Traditional Cultural Expressions and Genetic Resources
  • Background brief No. 9: Documentation of Traditional Knowledge and Traditional Cultural Expressions PDF, Background brief on documentation of traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions
  • Documenting Traditional Knowledge: A Toolkit
  • Protect and Promote Your Culture:  A Practical Guide to Intellectual Property for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities
  • List and Brief Technical Explanation of Various Forms in which Traditional Knowledge May be Found PDF, List and Brief Technical Explanation of Various Forms in which Traditional Knowledge May be Found
  • Minding Culture: Case Studies on Intellectual Property and Traditional Cultural Expressions PDF, BMinding Culture: Case Studies on Intellectual Property and Traditional Cultural Expressions
  • Consolidated Analysis of the Legal Protection of Traditional Cultural Expressions/Expressions of Folklore PDF, Consolidated Analysis of the Legal Protection of Traditional Cultural Expressions/Expressions of Folklore
  • Note on the Meanings of the Term "Public Domain" in the Intellectual Property System with Special Reference to the Protection of Traditional Knowledge and Traditional Cultural Expressions/Expressions of Folklore PDF, Consolidated Analysis of the Legal Protection of Traditional Cultural Expressions/Expressions of Folklore

Preparation kits of previous IGC sessions