Historic WIPO treaty adopted on intellectual property and genetic resources

In a landmark achievement for international intellectual property law, the WIPO treaty on intellectual property, genetic resources, and associated traditional knowledge was adopted by consensus last Friday. This milestone underscores the vitality of multilateralism in the field of IP.

The treaty, a result of over 20 years of discussions, aims to enhance transparency in the patent system. It introduces a mandatory disclosure requirement for patents based on genetic resources and/or associated traditional knowledge. This significant development demonstrates that intellectual property frameworks can be beneficial for all, with strong support from countries in South America and Africa.

The European Union played a crucial role as a bridge-builder in these negotiations, facilitating a balanced agreement that is acceptable to all parties involved. The discussions on multilateralism in intellectual property will continue in November at another diplomatic conference focused on the design law treaty. Stay tuned for further updates.

More information

• Press release (WIPO)
• Intellectual property webpage