This Focus Piece discusses the new mandate of the WIPO Intergovernmental Committee on Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore (IGC) that was renewed by the WIPO General Assembly IN 2009 and identifies challenges that lie ahead in the future work of the IGC under the new mandate for text based negotiations towards an international legal instrument or instruments for the effective protection of GR, TK and TCEs. It points to the need for greater coordination on the part of developing countries between themselves and with their national stakeholders to overcome these challenges and also stresses on the need to ensure that the work of the WIPO IGC complements the work currently undertaken on related issues in other multilateral fora, particularly the WTO negotiations on the relationship between TRIPS and CBD, and the CBD International Access and Benefit Sharing Regime.
Following the Focus Piece is a summary of major developments in the third quarter of 2009 on IP related issues in multilateral organizations including: UNFCCC, WTO, WIPO, WHO, CBD, FAO, regional and bilateral free trade agreements, national legislations, and other related processes like ACTA and G8.
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