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WIPO: Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge, and Folklore - http://www.wipo.int/tk/en/
World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) pages on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources with links to Traditional Knowledge, and Folklore. Includes coverage of the intergovernmental committee covering all three issues. |
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UPOV - International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants - http://www.upov.int
Website of the institution that governs this 65 nation Convention on Plant Variety Protection (PVP) of crops and flowers. Details of the Convention, membership, conduct, implementation. |
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WorldTrade Organisation - TRIPs / Patents pages - http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/trips_e/intel2_e.htm#patents
WTO's pages on the Agreement on Trade-Related aspects of Intellectual Property rights (TRIPs), highlighting the patents clauses which include genetic resources patents. Links to all other aspects of trade and intellectual property. |
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Commission on Intellectual Property Rights (CIPR) - http://www.iprcommission.org/
UK Government IPR Commission's website containing background, papers, conference reports and UK government response. Commission's Report: "Integrating IPRs and Development Policy" available in many languages. |
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Seeding Solutions - http://www.idrc.ca/en/ev-9424-201-1-DO_TOPIC.html
Full text and publication details of Volume 1 (ownership, conservation and exchange of genetic resources) and Volume 2 (legal mechanisms) which update People, Plants and Patents. Published by The Crucible Group/IDRC in 2000. |
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People, Plants and Patents - http://web.idrc.ca/en/ev-9317-201-1-DO_TOPIC.html
Full text of 1994 book on the impact of intellectual property on trade, agricultural biodiversity, and rural society by The Crucible Group, hosted by IDRC. |
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TRIPs, Sui Generis and Plant Variety Protection - http://www.twnside.org.sg/access_5.htm
Third World Network's pages on IP issues. Extensive and historical coverage of the issues from an authoritative developing country perspective. |
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International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture - http://www.ukabc.org/iu2.htm
UKabc portal on the IT PGRFA (International Seed Treaty) that governs the access, use, conservation and development of the genetic resources of food security crop and forage species. Treaty outlaws IPRs on selected PGRFA. Links to all official FAO, media and CSO resources on the Treaty. |
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Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Prior Art Database (TEK*PAD) - http://shr.aaas.org/tek/tekpad.htm
An online, searchable archive of public domain documented uses of traditional ecological knowledge concerning indigenous knowledge and plant species, necessary to establish prior art. Includes taxonomic data, ethnobotanical uses, scientific/medical papers, and patent applications. |
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Blogging Biodiversity - http://kathryn.garforthmitchell.net/
A useful personal weblog on international negotiations on biodiversity issues. |
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The True Cost of Gene Patents: The Economic and Social Consequences of Patenting Genes and Living Organisms - http://weblog.greenpeace.org/ge/archives/1Study_True_Costs_Gene_Patents.pdf
This Greenpeace report is one in a series that call for a substantial restriction of, or a complete end to, the patenting of genes and living organisms(2004) |
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Comparing sui generis rights systems - http://www.biotech-monitor.nl/index36.htm
Theme issue of Biotechnology and Development Monitor journal on Plant Variety Rights and sui generis systems. Journal covers all aspects of IPRs, seed systems and biotechnology. Links through home page of journal. |
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World Patent System - http://www.grain.org/publications/wipo-patent-2002-en.cfm
Review by GRAIN of moves by the World Intellectual Property Organisation to implement a single global system for approval and administration of patents. |
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Quaker United Nations Office (QUNO) - http://www.quno.org/economicissues/intellectual-property/default.htm
QUNO publications on Trade and Intellectual Property, including aspects related to: Food, Sui Generis systems, Biotechnology, Pharmaceuticals, Traditional Knowledge |
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Intellectual Property and Community Rights in African Agriculture: Implications for Small Farmers - http://www.grain.org/briefings/?id=3
Authoritative introduction to these issues by Genetic Resources Action International (GRAIN) concerning African countries that are being forced to choose between two conflicting paths for agricultural research and development: one rooted in the knowledge and practices of its farmers and agricultural biodiversity or one dependent on the products of Northern corporations. |
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Porto Alegre Treaty to Share the Global Commons - http://www.ukabc.org/genetic_commons_treaty.htm
Full text and background of proposed treaty designed to ensure that governments and Indigenous Peoples, who are the caretakers of their part of the genetic commons, establish the appropriate statutory mechanisms needed to ensure both sovereignty and open access to the world's genetic diversity. |
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TRIPs, Biodiversity and Commonwealth Countries - http://www.ukabc.org/TRIPs/cs_exsum.htm
Discussion paper prepared for the Commonwealth Secretariat on capacity building priorities for the Review of TRIPs Article 27.3(b). Extensive links to related papers and sites. |
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Small-scale Producers' Intellectual Rights to Agricultural Biodiversity - http://www.ukabc.org/ipr2.htm
Introduction to the issues in a Kenyan context, with an emphasis on farmers, pastoralists and fisherfolk, and the need for protocols on intellectual property. Includes Via Campesina's statement on Farmers' Rights. |
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Alternative Mechanisms to Enhance Corporate Monopoly and BioSerfdom in the 21st Century - http://www.etcgroup.org/upload/publication/230/01/newenclosuresfinal.pdf
ETC Group Communiqué on the uncertainties surrounding intellectual property rights, which, being increasingly unacceptable to industry, is why new tools for monopoly control of biological and other resources are being developed. |
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Action Aid Food Rights Campaign: TRIPs review - http://www.actionaid.org.uk/100225/trips.html
Resources related to Action Aid's campaign on genetic resources with links to papers on IPRs, TRIPs, GM crops, agricultural trade and corporate control. |