This Brief describes the main objectives of documenting traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions, the intellectual property issues that may arise and options for addressing them.

This commentary has been drafted by the Secretariat of Unesco and the International Bureau of WIPO.

This Brief describes the main objectives of documenting traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions, the intellectual property issues that may arise and options for addressing them.

This publication, prepared under the aegis of the WIPO Creative Heritage Project by two external consultants, Ms. Molly Torsen and Dr. Jane Anderson, offers legal information and compiles practical experiences on the management of intellectual property for cultural institutions whose collections comprise traditional cultural expressions. It seeks to respond directly to the needs of cultural institutions and indigenous and traditional communities dealing with the preservation, safeguarding and protection of cultural heritage.

This publication is part of a series of background papers prepared by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) dealing with intellectual property issues in relation to genetic resources, traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions/ folklore. It is intended to provide a comprehensive analysis of the policy issues that arise in the debate over improved intellectual property protection of TCEs/folklore, as an information resource for policy makers, negotiators, legislators, indigenous and traditional communities, users of traditional cultural expressions/folklore, researchers and others interested in exploring these issues in detail.

Literature from the Peripheries: Refrigerated Culture and Pluralism is a collection of chapters dealing with multiple minority cultures from all over the world. The book examines the status of several less known cultures or cultural communities which exist in the peripheries of space and time. In addition to this, the arguments and the discourses running through chapters prove the need of cultural diversity and pluralism. This well-thought and critically written book is a clarion call for humanity to look over the shoulder and see the ghost of civilization receding farther away. The book will interest the readers, scholars, practitioners, and activists who like to explore several cultures and cultural conflicts.

This is one of a series of Booklets dealing with intellectual property and genetic resources, traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions/folklore.