Documentation and

Digitization of Intangible

Cultural Heritage: the

Experience of WIPO

International Conference on Intellectual Property and Cultural Heritage in the Digital World

Madrid, Spain

October 29-30, 2009

Brigitte Vézina

Traditional Knowledge Division

WIPO

Structure of Presentation

� Terminology: How will Terms be Used?

� Traditional Cultural Expressions (TCEs) and IP: What are Some of the Issues?

� Normative Work at WIPO: the WIPO Intergovernmental Committee (IGC)

� TCEs and Digitization and Documentation of ICH: Issues, Options and Practical Tools

TK, TCEs and ICH

ICH TCEs

TK TK

A working description of

TCEs

. . . any forms, whether tangible and intangible, in which traditional culture and knowledge are expressed, appear or are manifested, which are:

� the products of creative intellectual activity, including individual and communal creativity;

� characteristic of a community’s cultural and social identity and cultural heritage; and

� maintained, used or developed by such community, or by individuals having the right or responsibility to do so in accordance with the customary law and practices of that community

� Include: art, music, designs, symbols, performances, rituals, narratives (Art. 1, WIPO Draft Provisions on the Protection of Traditional Cultural Expressions, 2006)

� TCEs:

� embody communal identities and linked to the continued vitality of indigenous cultures

� reflect a community’s history, traditions, values and beliefs

� integral to cultural diversity

� TCEs should therefore be preserved and safeguarded: but should they be “protected” as a form of “intellectual property”?

TCES and intellectual

property

� Some forms of TCEs already protected: � Derivatives/contemporary adaptations

� Performances of TCEs

� Recordings of TCEs

� Compilations and databases of TCEs

� But, TCEs “as such” are in the “public domain” – should they be “protected” and, if so, what does “protection” mean? What options are there?

� See WIPO, Gap Analysis, WIPO/GRTKF/IC/13/4(b), available at www.wipo.int/tk/en/igc/gap-analyses.html

What could “protection” of

TCEs mean?

� an exclusive property right → to prevent or authorize use of TCEs, incl. for exploitation to support economic development

� prevention of inappropriate, unwanted use and commercialization by others

� remuneration for third party uses

� acknowledgement of source

� defensive protection (protection against IP rights)

Normative developments: WIPO

Intergovernmental Committee (IGC)

� first session in April 2001

� members and participants:

• member states

• intl. organizations

• NGOs (over 200)

• eg., ICOM

• indigenous and local communities: speedy

accreditation and WIPO Voluntary Fund

New IGC Mandate for 2010-2011

� International legal instrument for

effective protection of TK and TCEs

� Text-based negotiations

� Including on WIPO/GRTKF/IC/9/4

� Clearly defined work program for the

2010/2011 biennium

� 2011 GA: text submitted

� Diplomatic Conference IGC 15

December 7-11,

2009

Draft

provisions for

protection of

TCEs

Sui generis

provisions –

collective

rights, no

formalities,

indefinite

protection. . .

WIPO Draft Provisions on

TCEs

� Art 1: Subject matter

� Art 2: Beneficiaries

� Art 3: Scope of rights � Art 4: Management of rights

� Art 5: Exceptions and limitations

� Art 6: Term of protection

� Art 7: Formalities

� Art 8: Sanctions and remedies � Art 9: Transitional measures

� Art 10: Relationship with IP protection

� Art 11: International protection � See WIPO/GRTKF/IC/9/4 available at

http://www.wipo.int/meetings/en/doc_details.jsp?doc_id=55137

1. Cultural expressions of particular

cultural/spiritual value – exclusive

right if TCE registered

2. Other cultural expressions – no

formalities - moral rights and reasonable

royalty

Draft Article 3

3. Secret TCEs

Documentation and Digitization:

TCE and IP Issues

� Documentation and digitization of TCEs valuable for their safeguarding

� Museums and archives as repositories of indigenous and other cultural materials – fulfill vital preservation, educational, scholarly and public access functions

� However, indigenous communities question control over, access to, ownership of, control over and authorship of indigenous materials held by museums and archives

“The crux of the problem is that information about us is not owned by us”

� a problem is that IP rights in documentation and recordings of TCEs vest in those who made the documentation/recordings – communities see themselves as legally disenfranchised

� complex ethical, cultural and legal questions

� Museums and archives are pivotal spaces within which issues of access, control, authorship, ownership and re-use of indigenous cultural materials can be discussed

� emerging forms of collaboration between libraries and communities

� role of guidelines and protocols – building relationships

� Recognizing sensitivities surrounding documentation/digitization of TCEs and IP management, WIPO has developed practical tools, complementing normative work of the IGC: � WIPO Creative Heritage Training Program for Indigenous

Communities on Cultural Documentation, Archiving and IP Management

� WIPO Surveys and Database of Practices, Protocols and Policies

� WIPO Guide on “Intellectual Property and Safeguarding Traditional Cultures: Legal Issues and Practical Options for Museums, Libraries and Archives” (draft)

WIPO Creative Heritage Training

Program on Cultural Documentation

� WIPO, American Folklife Center/LOC and

Duke University

� Hands-on technical training

� IP training

� Camera, sound recording equipment, laptop

and software

� Pilot program successfully completed, for

Maasai community, with National Museums of

Kenya, Kenya

WIPO Guide on IP and

Safeguarding Traditional

Cultures (draft)

complex and sensitive issues

� Who “owns” collections of indigenous materials?

� Which legal and ethical rules apply?

� How can museums/archives and communities develop mutually-beneficial relationships?

� What role does IP management play?

� What “good practices” are there?

Table of contents (to come)

Thank you!

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brigitte.vezina@wipo.int

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