Held from 13-17 October 2008, in Geneva, Switzerland, the 13th session of the Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore (IGC) of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) ended with no agreement.

Despite the encouragement of WIPO Director General Francis Gurry to move to concrete progress, two detailed analytical background papers from the secretariat, and a proposal from the African Group, positions remained largely unchanged from past IGC meetings. What stalled this week’s meeting was disagreement on two competing proposals on future work: one submitted by the African Group early Monday morning, 13 October, and then revised following consultations with members, and one tabled by meeting Chair Rigoberto Gauto Vielman (Paraguay) at midday on Friday. The Chair’s text adhered closely to a text circulated by France, which sources said was on behalf of the EU, in informal sessions earlier on Friday. Key disagreements were over the composition of the proposed three intersessional working groups, the timing of the sessions, and whether or not to make the three meetings concurrent. The three working groups would focus on the following issue areas: traditional knowledge; traditional cultural expressions;and genetic resources.
Following the meeting’s closure, WIPO Director General Francis Gurry and Chair Rigoberto Gauto Vielman said they would pursue efforts in the coming weeks to bridge differences on the way to move negotiations forward.
Links to further information
WIPO press release, 21 October 2008
IP Watch, 18 October 2008
All IP Watch articles on the meeting
Meeting website