Protection of Traditional Knowledge by Geographical Indications

This paper considers the extent to which Geographical Indications (GIs) regimes might provide for the protection of Traditional Knowledge ('TK'), through a consideration of the debate on TK within both the WTO and WIPO. The author relates the policy objectives, identified by WIPO as ideally underpinning the legislative protection of TK, to the policy objectives of GIs protection. The paper concludes with an examination of debate within the WTO, for the extension of the special protection offered to GIs for wines and spirits to handicrafts and other products and concludes with some case studies of handicrafts as examples of GIs.