WIPO Assembly Approves New Work Mandate on GR, TK Protection
IP Watch, 30 September 2013

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND: The World Intellectual Property Organization General Assembly renewed the mandate of the Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore (IGC). The full membership approved a deal reached on the renewal of the mandate and details of the IGC work programme in an informal session on 27 September. According to the document adopted by the Assembly, the WIPO IGC should report to next year’s General Assembly so that it can take stock of progress made in 2014 and decide on convening a diplomatic conference. It is still unclear whether there will be one instrument for all subjects or three separate ones. Whether it will be considered legally binding or not also remains in question. Member States’ statements reaffirmed their positions and their divergences. Read the article …