Breaking News

Should there be any exceptions or limitations to rights attaching to protectable TCEs/EoF?


International Publishers Association (IPA)

IPA opposes a hasty and premature protection of TCEs/EoF through an IP related framework and therefore does not at this stage want to comment on limitations and exceptions to balance a possible framework of TCE protection.
_________________________________________________

China

We think that, first, the protection of TCEs/EoF should not affect the use of TCEs/EoF by members of the communities according to their customary laws or norms; second, the use of TCEs/EoF without permission should be allowed, provided that the source is indicated, in the following cases: (1) use for scientific research or education purpose; (2) use for personal study, research or appreciation; (3) use for reporting news or current events; (4) use by governmental organs for carrying out their duties; (5) use for archive or inventory purpose; (6) use for national security; third, non-voluntary licences may be applied to the use of TCEs/EoF in the form of adaptation or broadcast.
_________________________________________________

Kyrgyzstan

Exceptions and limitations shall be provided in respect of use of traditional cultural expressions (folklore).
_________________________________________________

United States of America

The United States believes that it is premature for the IGC to undertake a focused discussion of “exceptions and limitations attaching to rights to protectable TCEs/EoF.” First, as currently framed, the issue may tilt in a particular policy direction that is not warranted at this stage of the Committee’s deliberations. Second, such a discussion may have the unintended consequence of polarizing the discussion, thereby impeding rather than advancing the work of the IGC. 

As a general matter, and consistent with comments in response to Issue 7, the IGC should continue its work in identifying the extent of existing mechanisms to address specific issues and concerns that have been raised in the Committee and identifying any perceived gaps, including appropriate and applicable exceptions and limitations.
_________________________________________________

Ghana
This instrument shall not affect the following
i)                   Traditional systems of access, use or exchange of folklore knowledge.
ii)                 Access, use and exchange of knowledge and technologies by and between local communities.

The sharing of benefits based upon customary practices of the concerned local communities, provided that the exception shall not be taken to apply to any person or persons not living in the traditional and customary way of life relevant to the conservation and sustainable use of folklore

iii)               the continued availability of traditional knowledge for the customary practice, exchange, use and transmission of folklore by traditional knowledge holders
iv)               the use of traditional medicine for household purposes; use in government hospitals, especially by traditional knowledge holders attached to such hospitals; or use for other public health purposes
v)                  Regime of storage categorization of traditional medical practices
vi)               Any use of the traditional knowledge or TCE for the benefit of the public.
_________________________________________________

Brazil

A provision on exceptions and limitations is welcome as long as it is based on the need to allow uses of public interest. The draft provision of Article 5 of document WIPO/GRTKF/IC/10/4, transcribed below, represents an adequate basis to discuss the issue:

“(a) Measures for the protection of TCEs/EoF should:
(i) not restrict or hinder the normal use, transmission, exchange and development of TCEs/EoF within the traditional and customary context by members of the relevant community as determined by customary laws and practices;
(ii) extend only to utilizations of TCEs/EoF taking place outside the traditional or customary context, whether or not for commercial gain; and,
(iii) not apply to utilizations of TCEs/EoF in the following cases:
- by way of illustration for teaching and learning;
- non-commercial research or private study;
- criticism or review;
- reporting news or current events;
- use in the course of legal proceedings;
- the making of recordings and other reproductions of TCEs/EoF for purposes of their inclusion in an archive or inventory for non-commercial cultural heritage safeguarding purposes; and
- incidental uses, provided in each case that such uses are compatible with fair practice, the relevant community is acknowledged as the source of the TCEs/EoF where practicable and possible, and such uses would not be offensive to the relevant community.

(b) Measures for the protection of TCEs/EoF could allow, in accordance with custom and traditional practice, unrestricted use of the TCEs/EoF, or certain of them so specified, by all members of a community, including all nationals of a country.”
_________________________________________________

Japan

As mentioned in the above item 3, any justifiable reasons for IP right protection to be extended to TCEs/EoF are not clearly identified and sufficiently explained. In this respect, Japan has a serious concern. Japan is not in a position to enter into discussion based on right or protection, but in discussing exceptions and limitations, consideration should be given to the balance between the interests of right holders and public interests although such balance may vary by the form of protection and the scope of illegal acts.
_________________________________________________

Norway

Taking inspiration from traditional intellectual property law, limitiations on the protection of TCEs/EoF should be examined. In particular the possibility of non-commercial and respectful use including use in education and research, should be considered. Measures aiming to safeguard the protection and preservation of cultural and traditional heritage should also be developed. Any such public interest measures should ensure that the TCE/EoF in question are treated with respect.
_________________________________________________

Qatar

For cultural, educational, research and information purposes and otherwise.
_________________________________________________

South Africa

South Africa has not yet developed a detailed proposal dealing with issues to these provisions, but we would be happy to provide such a proposal to the Committee when completed.
_________________________________________________

Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North (RAIPON)

The right of priority to use traditional knowledge for commercial purposes, granted by representatives of indigenous peoples and encouragement of persons related to indigenous peoples, to make commercial use of traditional knowledge through the provision of essential capital and conditions for such use by persons and organizations of indigenous peoples.

Documentation by specialists of traditional knowledge (including their whole range as listed above) of persons and communities related to indigenous peoples, which they wish to use for commercial purposes, or in cases of the unauthorized use of such knowledge by persons not related to indigenous peoples.
_________________________________________________

Colombia

We agree to the existence of exceptions or limitations to rights attaching to protectable traditional knowledge, provided that the measures for the protection of TCEs/EoF cannot restrict the use of such knowledge in the habitual and traditional community context. In general, we support the contents of the proposed Article 5 of the substantive provisions contained in documents WIPO/GRTKF/IC/9/4 and WIPO/GRTKF/IC/10/4.

In general, we consider that exceptions must be formulated openly, provided that minimum conditions are satisfied. This corresponds to the three steps rule in copyright and that of Article 30 of the TRIPS Agreement on patents.
_________________________________________________

Federación Ibero-Latinoamericana de Artistas, Intérpretes y Ejecutantes (FILAIE)

Yes, in this area consideration should be given to physical handicaps which may affect persons and at times make access to traditional culture impossible; everything related to teaching and education should also be envisaged and, in general, those limitations contained in current international treaties and national legislation relating to copyright, performers and producers, are included in the aforementioned provisions.
_________________________________________________

Tunisia

The rights attaching to protectable traditional knowledge should not be subject either to exceptions or to limitations (an inventory list should be drawn up). 

Tunisia is now equipped with a body within the Ministry of Culture and Heritage Protection, responsible for producing a list of and devising technical specifications for references in this area.
_________________________________________________

Guatemala

Law for the Protection of the National Cultural Heritage, Decree No. 26-97, revised by Decree No. 81-98.

Article 37 – Reproduction of cultural property. Cultural property may be reproduced by all the available technical means. Where this involves direct contact between the object to be reproduced and the means that will be used to reproduce it, the authorization of the Directorate General of the Cultural and Natural Heritage shall be required, subject to the owner or holder’s authorization. Any method of reproduction causing harm to or a change in the original cultural property shall be prohibited for use. Any copy or reproduction shall have a visible sign engraved or printed on it and identifying it as such.

Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, ratified by the Government of Guatemala on August 21, 2006, published in the Journal of Central America on March 23, 2007.

Article 8:  Measures to protect cultural expressions:

(a)        Determining whether there are special situations in which cultural expressions in their territory run the risk of lapse, or are the subject of a serious threat, or require any kind of urgent safeguard measure.

Model Provisions for National Laws on the Protection of Expressions of Folklore Against Illicit Exploitation and Other Prejudicial Actions (WIPO/GRTKF/IC/2).

Use for pedagogical activity purposes.

Use for the purposes of illustrating an author’s original work, provided that the scope of such use is compatible with good use.

Taking of expressions of folklore for the purposes of creating an original work of one or more authors.

The provisions of Article 3 will not apply either where the use of expressions of folklore is fortuitous, including inter alia the use of any expression of folklore that can be seen or heard in the course of an event for information purposes concerning said event by means of photography, broadcasting, sound or visual recording, provided that the scope of said use is justified for information purposes.

Use of objects incorporating the expressions of folklore which are permanently located in a place in which they can be seen by the public, if the use consists in including their image in a photograph, film or television program.
_________________________________________________

Russian Federation

Taking into consideration points 3 and 4, any exceptions or limitations would not be expedient.

In cases of granting protection different from the one provided for in p. 3 and 4, the protection should not limit the cultural rights of the people, aimed at the preservation and development of cultural originality of peoples and cultural exchange, education, studies, et

No comments