Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Source: WIPO
Context: WIPO member states approved a historic new Treaty on intellectual property (IP), genetic resources (GR), and traditional knowledge (TK), following decades of negotiations.
Need for the Treaty:
- Addressing Biopiracy: Ensures traditional knowledge is not exploited without permission or compensation.
- Utilization: Genetic resources and traditional knowledge are often used in patented inventions and scientific research.
About the Treaty:
- Inclusive: It marks the first WIPO Treaty to include provisions for Indigenous Peoples and local communities.
- New Disclosure Requirement: Patent applicants must disclose the country of origin or source of GR and the Indigenous Peoples or local community that provided the associated TK.
- Membership: Any WIPO member state can join.
- Non-Retroactivity: The treaty does not apply to patents filed before its entry into force.
About WIPO:
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) was established in 1967 through the WIPO Convention, transforming the earlier United International Bureau for the Protection of Intellectual Property (BIPRI) into WIPO. As a specialized agency of the United Nations, WIPO serves as a global forum for intellectual property (IP) services, policy, information, and cooperation. Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, WIPO boasts a membership of 193 member states, including India. WIPO administers several key treaties, such as the Berne Convention, Washington Treaty, Paris Convention, and the Singapore Treaty on the Law of Trademarks, among others
