Indigenous knowledge and intellectual property: a sustainable agenda

The paper argues that the current ways of protecting intellectual property are limited in their scope for recognizing indigenous rights to indigenous knowledge. Indigenous knowledge is often defined as being holistic and collectively owned, and an appropriate protection should allow for maintaining...

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Main Authors: Marinova, Dora, Raven, M.
Format: Journal Article
Published: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd. 2006
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/23292
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author Marinova, Dora
Raven, M.
author_facet Marinova, Dora
Raven, M.
author_sort Marinova, Dora
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description The paper argues that the current ways of protecting intellectual property are limited in their scope for recognizing indigenous rights to indigenous knowledge. Indigenous knowledge is often defined as being holistic and collectively owned, and an appropriate protection should allow for maintaining the cultural and physical environment that has generated it. After examining the failure of the patent system to recognize indigenous input (using examples from the US Patent and Trademark Office), the analysis is directed towards alternatives. The world's first case of indigenous intellectual accreditation through the partnership between Mt Romance (Australian sandalwood company), Aveda (US-based multinational cosmetics corporation) and the Kutkabubba community (represented by the Songman Circle of Wisdom), is presented. The accreditation allows for the indigenous people to be recognized as traditional owners of the land, and for their care and knowledge about the sandalwood trees. It also gives them a share of the profits made from the contemporary use of the pure sandalwood oil. The paper argues that sustainability, and indigenous sustainability in particular, provides a conceptual framework for a change in the way of protecting intellectual property. This implies that appropriate policies should be put in place for businesses to feel responsible towards the community.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-232922017-09-13T13:57:03Z Indigenous knowledge and intellectual property: a sustainable agenda Marinova, Dora Raven, M. Indigenous accreditation Songman Circle of Wisdom Patents Aveda Mt Romance Australia The paper argues that the current ways of protecting intellectual property are limited in their scope for recognizing indigenous rights to indigenous knowledge. Indigenous knowledge is often defined as being holistic and collectively owned, and an appropriate protection should allow for maintaining the cultural and physical environment that has generated it. After examining the failure of the patent system to recognize indigenous input (using examples from the US Patent and Trademark Office), the analysis is directed towards alternatives. The world's first case of indigenous intellectual accreditation through the partnership between Mt Romance (Australian sandalwood company), Aveda (US-based multinational cosmetics corporation) and the Kutkabubba community (represented by the Songman Circle of Wisdom), is presented. The accreditation allows for the indigenous people to be recognized as traditional owners of the land, and for their care and knowledge about the sandalwood trees. It also gives them a share of the profits made from the contemporary use of the pure sandalwood oil. The paper argues that sustainability, and indigenous sustainability in particular, provides a conceptual framework for a change in the way of protecting intellectual property. This implies that appropriate policies should be put in place for businesses to feel responsible towards the community. 2006 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/23292 10.1111/j.1467-6419.2006.00260.x Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd. restricted
spellingShingle Indigenous accreditation
Songman Circle of Wisdom
Patents
Aveda
Mt Romance
Australia
Marinova, Dora
Raven, M.
Indigenous knowledge and intellectual property: a sustainable agenda
title Indigenous knowledge and intellectual property: a sustainable agenda
title_full Indigenous knowledge and intellectual property: a sustainable agenda
title_fullStr Indigenous knowledge and intellectual property: a sustainable agenda
title_full_unstemmed Indigenous knowledge and intellectual property: a sustainable agenda
title_short Indigenous knowledge and intellectual property: a sustainable agenda
title_sort indigenous knowledge and intellectual property: a sustainable agenda
topic Indigenous accreditation
Songman Circle of Wisdom
Patents
Aveda
Mt Romance
Australia
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/23292