Holy See welcomes ‘significant’ new treaty on intellectual property
The Holy See's permanent observer to the UN in Geneva says a new international treaty represents a major step towards a “dynamic and forward-looking” intellectual property system.
By Joseph Tulloch
Archbishop Ettore Balestrero, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations and other international organizations in Geneva, has welcomed a historic new treaty on intellectual property.
In an address to member states of the United Nations World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the archbishop called the treaty a “significant step forward.”
The Treaty
WIPO member states adopted the agreement – which concerns “intellectual property, genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge” – in May this year.
The treaty establishes a new disclosure requirement in international law for patent applicants whose inventions are based on genetic resources and/or associated traditional knowledge.
It was the first WIPO treaty in more than a decade, and the first to address genetic resources and traditional knowledge of indigenous peoples.
At the time, WIPO's director general said the treaty showed that the intellectual property system could “continue to foster innovation” while “evolving in a more inclusive way, responding to the needs of all countries and their communities.”
An “important step”
In his speech – delivered at the 65th series of WIPO Assemblies of Member States – Archbishop Balestrero said the treaty was an “important step” towards a “dynamic and forward-looking intellectual property system.”
He stressed that the Holy See appreciates the emphasis on “the participation of indigenous peoples and local communities” in a way that “takes into account the specific cultural and legal contexts in which they live.”
The archbishop added that the treaty would help promote the “revitalization of negotiations on traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions” at the diplomatic level.
Furthermore, the archbishop said, the Holy See considers it “crucial” that the treaty was concluded by consensus.
Archbishop Balestrero concluded his speech by reaffirming the Holy See's commitment to future collaboration with WIPO, “in order to foster a constructive dialogue with the aim of advancing the intellectual property system.”
This, he said, is part of the Holy See's broader commitment to support Integral human development.
