Intellectual Property Rights, Legislated Protection, Sui Generis Models and Ethical Access in the Transformation of Indigenous Traditional Knowledge
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View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by E-LIS repository INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS, LEGISLATED PROTECTION, SUI GENERIS MODELS AND ETHICAL ACCESS IN THE TRANSFORMATION OF INDIGENOUS TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE By GREG YOUNG-ING BA, Carleton University, 1987 MA, Carleton University, 1991 MPub, Simon Fraser University, 1999 A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in THE FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES (Educational Studies) THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA October, 2006 © Greg Young-Ing, 2006 Transformation of Traditional Knowledge ii ABSTRACT This dissertation arises out of deep concerns over how Indigenous Intellectual Property and Traditional Knowledge should be ethically accessed and used and reviews existing mechanisms of protection. It focuses on how Indigenous Intellectual Property and Traditional Knowledge should best be ethically, legislatively and legally treated in the public domain and in other public usage – and what mechanisms are required to protect it – particularly regarding Indigenous cultural expressions. The dissertation argues that existing regimes of protection – such as copyright, patent, trade secrets, trademark, commercial law, and international regulation and convents – do not provide adequate protection for certain forms of Indigenous Intellectual Property and Traditional Knowledge; and that, therefore, new systems of protection need to be considered, developed and implemented. The purposes of this dissertation are: 1) to outline and establish principles in the use of Indigenous Traditional Knowledge for commercial, industrial, and other public purposes, and in cultural practice, artworks and other tangible and intangible cultural expressions; 2) to establish theoretical frameworks on Indigenous peoples’ transformation of Traditional Knowledge through their cultural practice; and 3) to develop useful models and concepts to regulate the use of Traditional Knowledge by third parties in the contemporary contexts. In order to achieve these purposes, this dissertation will review the history of Indigenous and European knowledge systems and the interface between the two systems. It will also examine the development of Indigenous, national and International regulatory mechanisms and how the current discourse is evolving at these levels. Transformation of Traditional Knowledge iii TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT............................................................................................................................. ii TABLE OF CONTENTS ...................................................................................................... iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .................................................................................................. vi CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION.................................................................................1 Definitions......................................................................................................................1 Three Important Points on Traditional Knowledge .................................................4 Journey to a Research Topic..........................................................................................5 Statement of the Problem.............................................................................................10 Empirical-Like Knowledge as an Indigenous Methodology .......................................13 Experiencing and Interacting .......................................................................................17 Literature Review.........................................................................................................20 Chapters Overview.......................................................................................................26 CHAPTER TWO: INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE SYSTEMS ....................................28 Significant Contributions to Humanity: Devalued and Diminished............................28 Customary Laws: Developed Legal Regimes Devalued and Diminished...................31 CHAPTER THREE: MANUFACTURING THE MYTHOLOGICAL “OTHER” ...................................................................................................................35 An Historical Overview of the Portrayal of Indigenous Peoples through Literature................................................................................................................35 The Indigenous Voice..................................................................................................38 CHAPTER FOUR: EUROPEAN SYSTEMS: THE INTELLECTUAL PROPERY RIGHTS SYSTEM ................................................................................42 Copyright .....................................................................................................................42 Droit D’auteur and Droit Moral..................................................................................44 Originality....................................................................................................................45 Ownership....................................................................................................................46 Patents and Trademarks ...............................................................................................47 CHAPTER FIVE: CASE STUDIES IN IPR/TK INTERFACE ....................................50 Interaction Between TK and IPR Systems...................................................................50 The Public Domain Problem........................................................................................51 Case Studies.................................................................................................................51 Copyright Cases...........................................................................................................52 The Cameron Case.................................................................................................52 The Kou-skelowh Case..........................................................................................53 The Mbube Case ....................................................................................................54 Analysis..................................................................................................................55 Patent Cases .................................................................................................................56 The Igloolik Case...................................................................................................57 The Taumatin Case ................................................................................................57 Transformation of Traditional Knowledge iv Analysis..................................................................................................................58 Trademark Cases..........................................................................................................58 The Snumeymux Case ...........................................................................................59 The Aveda Case .....................................................................................................60 Analysis..................................................................................................................61 Summary......................................................................................................................62 CHAPTER SIX: INDIGENOUS INITIATIVES AND INDIGENOUS/NATIONAL INITIATIVES...........................................................64 Indigenous Paradigm ...................................................................................................64 Indigenous Experience with Print Media.....................................................................67 Indigenous Customary Laws and Technology.............................................................69 Summary......................................................................................................................70 Indigenous/National Initiatives....................................................................................71 South Africa’s Indigenous Knowledge Systems Policy ..............................................72 Canada and Australia: Moral and Collective Rights....................................................75 Moral Rights and Traditional Knowledge ...................................................................77 The Carpets Case .........................................................................................................77 Bulan Bulan vs. Anor R & T Textiles PTY Ltd.............................................................78 The Wai 262 Claim......................................................................................................79 The Australia Council/Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Board Protocol Guidelines................................................................................................80 The Use of Trademarks in New Zealand, Australia and Canada.................................82 The Indigenous Artist’s Research Project in Canada ..................................................89 The National Gatherings on Indigenous Knowledge...................................................91 Summary......................................................................................................................93 CHAPTER SEVEN: NATIONAL