One Day Virtual Conference | “Evolving trends for an International Regime on Intellectual property, Genetic Resources and Associated TK”
The genetic resources that are ‘genetic materials of actual or potential value’ have increasing interlink with Intellectual Property and Traditional knowledge. The value of Genetic Resource as an IP as well as its association with IP has been discussed on different fora in different contexts. The WIPO-IGC established in 2000 has been debating for more than two decades issues pertaining to genetic resources, traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions. Beginning with an initial non-normative approach looking at defensive protection, to need for a legal instrument in 2003, through a ‘text-based negotiations’ decision in 2010-11, the ‘inter sessional working groups’ leading progress, the emergence of single negotiating text and options around new patent disclosure requirement in 2012, and finally the Chair’s draft international legal instrument on GRs and associated TK in 2019 WIPO-IGC has trodden the turfs. The Chair’s draft is considered as the ‘basic proposal’ on which the negotiations will continue leading to diplomatic conference.