October 29, 2004
During the upcoming Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledgeand Folklore (IGC), which will take place in Geneva from November 1-5, 2004, CIEL and the Bern Declaration will host a side event focusing on ways the patent system may support the objectives and provisions of the Convention on Biolgoical Diversity (CBD).
The first roundtable, chaired by CIEL, will discuss the CBD request to WIPO on disclosure. Decision VI/24 of the CBD invited WIPO to examine, and where appropriate address, taking into account the need to ensure that this work is supportive of the objectives of the CBD, issues regarding the interrelation of access to genetic resources and disclosure requirements in intellectual property rights applications. The WIPO Assemblies decided that WIPO should respond positively, setting up a cross-cutting process to ensure adequate consideration of the issues and broad participation of the different stakeholders.
Panelists discussing the CBD request, the WIPO process, and potential responses will include Anthony Taubman from WIPO, John Scott from the CBD, David Vivas and Heike Baumuller from ICTSD, and Alejandro Argumedo from the Indigenous Peoples’ Biodiversity Forum.
The second roundtable, chaired by the Bern Declaration, will focus on the efficient implementation of anti-biopiracy articles in national law.