New UN treaty aims to protect traditional knowledge about genetic resources

U.N. countries made a new treaty to track traditional knowledge about genetic resources, like medicines from exotic plants. This is the first time all 193 U.N. member states agreed on protecting patents for knowledge from indigenous cultures. These cultures have been taken advantage of by colonists and traders for a long time. The treaty doesn't talk about paying indigenous communities for their knowledge yet, but it's a good start. It makes patent applicants, like foreign entrepreneurs, say where they got their ideas, especially from indigenous or local people's knowledge. The treaty, called the WIPO Intellectual Property, Genetic Resources and Associated Traditional Knowledge treaty, took over 20 years to make. It will become international law when 15 countries adopt it. The treaty focuses on genetic resources like medicinal plants, crops, and some animal breeds. It only applies to new discoveries, not old ones. WIPO's rules don't protect natural resources but help safeguard inventions that use these resources for the benefit of people, whether in the past or now. This treaty will make companies in industries like fashion, luxury goods, and pharmaceuticals say where they got plant-based chemicals for their products, if it's from local knowledge. The director-general of WIPO, Daren Tang, said this agreement shows that working together is important. It's a big step in making sure everyone's needs are considered.