Intervention by the World Conservation Union and the Center for International Environmental Law on the agenda item on traditional knowledge as prior art

A joint statement by the World Conservation Union (IUCN) and the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) arguing that current patent and intellectual property systems fail to protect biological diversity and the rights of indigenous peoples, calling for a sui generis system for traditional knowledge.

• The World Conservation Union (IUCN) and the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) assert that current intellectual property rights and patent systems are inadequate for protecting the rights of local communities and indigenous peoples, as well as the conservation of biological diversity.
• The organizations urge the Intergovernmental Committee to pursue Tasks B.2 and B.3 of its work programme to identify new criteria for protecting traditional knowledge, which should inform the development of a sui generis system.
• The proposed sui generis system for traditional knowledge should incorporate several specific mechanisms, including: formally established procedures for prior informed consent from States and indigenous peoples; the recognition of moral rights; protection of registers and databases; the use of trade-secret-like protections for non-public knowledge; and the requirement of certificates of origin or access contracts.
• The statement recommends that equitable benefit sharing should extend beyond royalties and compensation to include technology transfer, capacity building, shared intellectual property rights, and the costs associated with revitalising biological diversity and traditional knowledge.
• The organizations recommend establishing compliance monitoring mechanisms to track the final or post-access use of traditional knowledge and genetic resources, specifically distinguishing between commercial and non-commercial uses.

APA

Center for International Environmental Law (2002). Intervention by the World Conservation Union and the Center for International Environmental Law on the agenda item on traditional knowledge as prior art. https://www.ciel.org/news/intervention-by-the-world-conservation-union-and-the-center-for-international-environmental-law-on-the-agenda-item-on-traditional-knowledge-as-prior-art/

Chicago

Center for International Environmental Law. Intervention by the World Conservation Union and the Center for International Environmental Law on the agenda item on traditional knowledge as prior art. 2002. https://www.ciel.org/news/intervention-by-the-world-conservation-union-and-the-center-for-international-environmental-law-on-the-agenda-item-on-traditional-knowledge-as-prior-art/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Center for International Environmental Law |title=Intervention by the World Conservation Union and the Center for International Environmental Law on the agenda item on traditional knowledge as prior art |date=1 February 2002 |url=https://www.ciel.org/news/intervention-by-the-world-conservation-union-and-the-center-for-international-environmental-law-on-the-agenda-item-on-traditional-knowledge-as-prior-art/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{centerforinternationalenvironmentallaw2002intervention, author = {{Center for International Environmental Law}}, title = {{Intervention by the World Conservation Union and the Center for International Environmental Law on the agenda item on traditional knowledge as prior art}}, publisher = {Center for International Environmental Law}, year = {2002}, month = feb, url = {https://www.ciel.org/news/intervention-by-the-world-conservation-union-and-the-center-for-international-environmental-law-on-the-agenda-item-on-traditional-knowledge-as-prior-art/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }