WIPO's collaboration with the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS), through the implementation of a Traditional Knowledge Action Plan (TKAP), aims to assist certain Pacific Island States to develop national legislative protection systems for traditional knowledge (TK) and traditional cultural expressions (TCEs), building on a Pacific Model Law previously developed by Pacific Island States with the assistance of WIPO, as well as on the developments taking place in the WIPO Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore (IGC). WIPO is working to foster national and regional policy and legal developments that take into account the evolving international framework being negotiated in the IGC.

WIPO is to provide desk-based advice and hold training workshops to project beneficiaries.

WIPO's contribution is to provide PIFS and beneficiary countries with financial support and technical advice on the IP aspects of the development of national policy and legislation on TK, TCEs and genetic resources (GRs), a proposed regional protection system, the development of TK and TCE databases, and the international protection of TK, TCEs and GRs. WIPO is providing capacity-building assistance on IP management related to the commercialization of TK- and TCE-based products. The objective is to economically and culturally empower the region’s communities through the practical use of IP tools, such as trademarks and geographical indications, and the establishment of an IP strategy for TK/TCEs commercialization and trade.

A Memorandum of Understanding was jointly developed to formalize the WIPO-PIFS collaboration.

World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS)