WIPO-UNEP Study on the Intellectual Property Rights in the Share of Benefits Arising from the Use of Biological Resources and Associated Traditional Knowledge - Study No 4

This study explores the evolving role of intellectual property rights (IPRs) in the fair and equitable sharing of benefits resulting from the use of biological resources and associated traditional knowledge. Commissioned in response to a key decision of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), it assesses the policy, legal, and practical dimensions prompted further by global commitments at the World Summit on Sustainable Development. The study examines how IPRs intersect with conservation efforts, traditional knowledge systems, and innovation, offering conceptual models and empirical case studies across diverse ecological, legal, and cultural contexts. It evaluates challenges in recognizing and compensating indigenous contributions and outlines frameworks for implementing CBD Articles 8, 10, and 15–19. By emphasizing equitable access, informed consent, and mutually agreed terms, it provides concrete guidance for designing IPR systems that support sustainable development and biodiversity preservation.