New WIPO Treaty on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources: A Landmark Achievement for the Global South and India.

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has adopted a groundbreaking treaty on intellectual property, genetic resources (GRs), and associated traditional knowledge (ATK). This historic agreement is a significant victory for the Global South, particularly India, which has been a staunch advocate for such measures.

The treaty, hailed as a monumental step towards sustainable development, aims to safeguard biodiversity and enhance transparency within the patent system. It introduces mandatory disclosure obligations for patent applicants, requiring them to specify the country of origin or source of genetic resources when the claimed invention is based on these resources or associated traditional knowledge. This new requirement will fortify the connection between local communities and their GRs and ATK, a recognition long overdue in the global intellectual property (IP) community.

India’s Ministry of Commerce & Industry expressed that this treaty marks the beginning of a journey towards collective growth and fulfilling the promise of a sustainable future. By acknowledging the intrinsic link between local communities and their genetic resources, the treaty paves the way for more inclusive innovation. It allows the IP system to continue incentivizing innovation while evolving to meet the needs of all countries and their communities.

Adopted after two decades of rigorous negotiations and with the collective support of over 150 countries, this treaty represents a consensus at the multilateral level. It underscores the collaborative effort required to address global challenges and highlights the importance of inclusivity in innovation and sustainable development.

This achievement not only benefits the countries of the Global South but also reinforces India’s longstanding commitment to championing biodiversity and traditional knowledge. The new WIPO treaty stands as a testament to the power of collective action in shaping a more equitable and sustainable future for all.