Conference on protection of Nordic Indigenous traditional knowledge and Intellectual Property

A conference on the protection of Nordic indigenous traditional knowledge, ie of the Sámi and Greenlandic Inuit, and Intellectual property rights (IPR) will be co-organized in November in Inari, Sápmi, Northern Finland. The protection of traditional knowledge includes i.a. protection of traditional cultural expressions such as handicrafts, oral expressions and names and symbols. The aim is to strengthen regional cross-border co-operation and increase expertise in the Nordic countries on these issues with both short and long term goals. The focus is in particular on how the current IP system can afford protection to traditional knowledge and how gaps can be addressed. Regional measures may impact positively the international negotiations in the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). WIPO will organize a regional workshop for the Nordic countries the days preceding the Conference