The current mandate of the Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore (IGC) expires in December 2007.

Member states noted that the IGC had made progress on its substantive work, and agreed to work towards further convergence on the questions under its mandate, with a view to making recommendations to the WIPO General Assembly.

Delegates also affirmed that the Committee’s work had greatly benefited from the enhanced participation of representatives of indigenous and local communities which had been made possible by various initiatives, including the successful launch of the WIPO Voluntary Fund.

The IGC session commenced with an Indigenous Panel, chaired by Greg Young-Ing of the Opsakwayak Cree Nation, at which seven representatives of indigenous and local communities explained to the Committee their communities’ experiences, concerns and expectations regarding intellectual property and TK, TCEs, and Genetic Resources (GR).

WIPO Director General, Dr Kamil Idris, applauded the positive spirit in which member states, intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental organizations had addressed the far-reaching and challenging issues that were before them.

He observed that:

“The open and cooperative manner in which discussions took place in the IGC augurs well for its renewed mandate. There is now a deeper understanding of the diversity of views held and stronger mutual respect for the different perspectives that are brought to the table. This is a solid foundation on which to base future work of these fundamentally important issues.”

This session concentrated on core issues for the protection of TK and TCEs, focusing on the fundamental policy challenges that are central to the quest for more effective protection against misuse and misappropriation. These issues cover such questions as definitions of traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions, the form and scope of protection, and the nature of the beneficiaries.

Subject to the decision of the WIPO General Assembly to renew the IGC’s mandate, the next session of the IGC is scheduled to take place in February, 2008.