FFM to West Africa

This Report presents information compiled by WIPO from nine fact-finding missions conducted in 1998 and 1999 on the intellectual property needs and expectations of holders of traditional knowledge. The purpose of the Report is to provide information to WIPO Member States, holders of traditional knowledge, including indigenous peoples, the private sector, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, academic and research institutions and other interested parties, on the intellectual property needs and expectations of traditional knowledge holders expressed to WIPO during the fact-finding missions.

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

General information on the interface between intellectual property (IP) and traditional knowledge (TK), traditional cultural expressions (TCEs), and genetic resources (GRs). It briefly addresses the most important questions that arise when considering the role that IP principles and systems can play in protecting TK and TCEs from misappropriation, and in generating and equitably sharing benefits from their commercialization, and the role of IP in access to and benefit sharing in GRs.

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