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190 Nations Agree on First WIPO Treaty in Geneva, Chaired by Brazil

May 24, 2024, 11:14 PM

More than 190 nations have agreed on the first WIPO Treaty, which governs patents stemming from genetic resources such as medicinal plants. The treaty, announced by the UN, aims to better trace the origins of genetic resources under the global patent system and protect traditional knowledge. The conference leading to the signing of the Treaty was chaired by Brazil in Geneva, following more than 20 years of negotiations. The treaty ensures that genetic resources used in inventions, like new medicines derived from exotic plants, are properly traced. It also provides additional protection for Indian genetic resources and traditional knowledge. WIPO member states have hailed this as a landmark treaty protecting Indigenous Peoples’ rights, stating, 'Today we made history in many ways.'