“The public domain is not a universal ‘gotcha!’ that justifies a ransom in the form of weak or symbolic protection of Indigenous peoples’ knowledge. Properly applied, the public domain does not constitute a barrier to the effective protection of traditional knowledge.”
Ruth L. Okediji in Traditional Knowledge and the Public Domain
Valuing Traditional Knowledge and Indigenous Innovation
In 2017, the ILRP launched the Traditional Knowledge research project with five internationally renowned scholars offering strategic guidance. The project is focused on the role of IP, traditional knowledge and genetic resources held or used by Indigenous peoples, and their implications for global and domestic innovation.
Ruth Okediji’s work for CIGI is focused on designing a legal framework for genetic resources and traditional knowledge that will support Indigenous innovation. Through a round table with the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business, CIGI explored the potential contributions of Canada’s Indigenous peoples to the innovation economy and North American trade. CIGI also provided a forum for Indigenous leaders and North American experts to discuss ensuring NAFTA objectives do not undermine protection of Indigenous knowledge.
CIGI obtained the status of observer at the World Intellectual Property Organization’s Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore and has significantly contributed to the negotiations through a series of publications, official side events and a policy retreat in Geneva.