The Protection of Biodiversity and Traditional Knowledge in International Law of Intellectual Property

Analyses the methods of protection of biodiversity and related traditional knowledge in the international and comparative national intellectual property systems.

Part I. The Main Problems: 1. Introduction to legal issues related to genetic resources and traditional knowledge in the international property system; Part II. The Protection of Genetic Resources in Intellectual Property Law: 2. The TRIPS agreement and the patent protection of genetic resources; 3. The relationship between the TRIPS agreement and treaties protecting genetic resources and traditional knowledge; Part III. The Protection of Traditional Knowledge in the International Patent System: 4. Towards clearer legal definitions; 5. The construction of an access and benefit sharing regime and intellectual property issues: criteria and options; 6. The defensive protection of traditional knowledge in international patent law; 7. Positive protection of traditional knowledge; 8. Final observations.