The Philippines has joined the 193 member countries of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and adopted the landmark treaty on intellectual property (IP), genetic resources (GR), and traditional knowledge associated with genetic resources (ATK).
Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) director general Rowel Barba said the adoption comes after 25 years of negotiations to create an international standard on the global patent system and address the connection between patents, genetic resources, and traditional knowledge. The standard includes provisions that recognize the rights of indigenous peoples (IP) and local communities.
"The treaty showcases our collective effort to empower marginalized groups globally while maintaining a fair intellectual property system," Barba said at the Diplomatic Conference in Geneva.
The new treaty now requires inventors to disclose whether their patents are based on genetic resources and their associated traditional knowledge. This transparency is expected to prevent the misuse or theft of genetic resources and traditional knowledge.
Barba said that a similar rule is already in place in the Philippines through an agreement with the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples.
He added that IPOPHL has strongly supported this treaty, viewing it as a significant step towards inclusivity in the patent system. The treaty acknowledges the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities to their genetic resources and traditional knowledge, which are considered national cultural treasures in the Philippines and many other countries.
Barba underscored the importance of allowing countries enough flexibility to adopt and implement the treaty according to their circumstances.
He also pushed for a balanced approach to achieve the treaty's goals and promote diversity.
Following the treaty's adoption, Barba announced that IPOPHL would recommend to the Office of the President, through the Department of Foreign Affairs, that the Philippines become a contracting party to the treaty. This would enable the country to implement the treaty nationwide.
The new WIPO Treaty will take effect three months after 15 contracting parties have ratified it.
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