Traditional knowledge (TK) is a living body of knowledge passed on from generation to generation within a community. It includes genetic resources and often forms part of a people’s cultural and spiritual identity. The World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) is an agency of the United Nations (UN) and is the global forum for intellectual property services, policy, information and cooperation. 

WIPO’s Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore (IGC) is negotiating international legal instrument(s) on intellectual property (IP) and genetic resouces, traditional knowledge and the like. More information can be found here.

David Read will attend the forthcoming Interngovernmental Committee meeting as AIPLA's representative.