A pre-publication version of the study by A.K. Gupta entitled "The role of intellectual property rights in the sharing of benefits arising from the use of biological resources and traditional knowledge", commissioned by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), was presented at COP 7, held on 9-20 February 2004 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Three case studies are considered in the publication, including a 35-page study of the patenting of the gene Xa21 of wild rice from Mali, conferring resistance to bacterial rice blight. See http://www.wipo.int/edocs/prdocs/en/2004/wipo_pr_2004_373.html (press release, available in English, French and Spanish, linking to the study) or contact [email protected] for more information.

03/03/2004