28 March 2011
WIPO-Sponsored Meeting Concludes TKDL Can Prevent Misappropriation, Fuel Innovation
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Delegates attending the International Conference on the Utilization of the Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL) as a Model for Protection of Traditional Knowledge widely agreed about the value of the TKDL to protect against misappropriation of traditional knowledge, as well as to enable further innovation.

WIPO Director General Francis Gurry said WIPO is ready to facilitate international collaboration for other countries wishing to establish TKDLs.

24 March 2011: Delegates attending the International Conference on the Utilization of the Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL) as a Model for Protection of Traditional Knowledge widely agreed about the value of the TKDL to protect against misappropriation of traditional knowledge, as well as to enable further innovation. The Conference took place from 22-24 March 2011, in New Delhi, India, co-organized by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and India’s Council of Scientific and Industrial Research.

Participants heard from countries rich in traditional knowledge, such as Ecuador, Indonesia, Kenya, Peru, Republic of Korea and Thailand. Speakers agreed on the need to protect traditional knowledge from misappropriation, often dubbed as biopiracy.

WIPO Director General Francis Gurry said the TKDL is an excellent example of a technical platform that can work alongside legislative frameworks. Noting that India’s TKDL could be a good model for others, he said WIPO is ready to facilitate international collaboration for countries which were interested in establishing their own TKDLs. [WIPO Press Release] [UN News Centre]

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