IP Philippines, counterparts to look into economic
benefits of traditional knowledge

The emerging issue of Traditional Knowledge (TK), its importance and how the country can possibly economically benefit out of it especially on its use under the protective intellectual property rights would be explored by the IP Philippines with its counterparts from Europe and China.

A joint delegation from the European Patent Office (EPO) and the State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO) of the People’s Republic of China would be in the country beginning on Wednesday (July 5) to meet with IP Philippines and health officials and discuss how the country could further develop and put into good use its TK asset.

The joint delegation’s sojourn into the country was a part of its mission to collect data and facilitate exchanges on TK and its issues in some ASEAN countries in its effort to explore its economic benefits for the good of the IP community and for the proposed document and patent search system on this field.

It was also being undertaken to guide the possible setting up of TK databases for searches in patent examinations of IP offices.

IP Philippines Director General Adrian S. Cristobal Jr. said that the visit would give the country the opportunity to revisit its stocks of TK, whose protection and use goes beyond just the issue of economic benefits but stand as its symbols.

“For the Philippines, protecting and promoting traditional knowledge is fundamental to preserving our national identity, affirming our respect for our indigenous communities and cultural diversity in our society,” he said.

The joint delegation will be composed of Dieter Tzschoppe, director of the EPO, Pedro Osona, project leader of the China Cooperation of the EPO and Liu Jan and Xu Jailing, director of the European Division, Intellectual Cooperation Department and project officer, Asia-Pacific Division, International Cooperation Department, of SIPO respectively.

While in the country, the four officials would be meeting with IP officials headed by Cristobal and representatives from other sectors and offices including the Department of Health.

The joint delegation is eyeing exchanges on TK especially on its use for medicine and for agriculture. The data gathered would be presented by the EPO and SIPO during their seminar in Beijing, China in August.

Preserving and protecting TK and how countries can equitably make use of it under the context of IP are currently the subjects of international policy discussions by IP bodies and organizations.

According to the World Intellectual Property Organization, the issues and concerns of IP on TK include agriculture, food, environment especially the conservation of biological diversity, health including traditional medicines, indigenous issues, the aspects of trade and economic development and even on human rights.