Mooney, Pat Roy. The Conservation and Development of Indigenous Knowledge in the Context of Intellectual Property Systems. UNDP Draft Report by Rural Advancement Foundation International (RAFI). UNDP-INT/92/209.

RAFI’s report on indigenous knowledge and intellectual property rights (IPR) offers a survey of contemporary trends as IPR becomes increasingly globalised. A history of IPR is traced that examines the changing significance of intellectual "products" in international trade, particularly originating from the first world. Current developments in IPR are discussed such as the claim by the National Institute of Health (NIH) application for a patent on DNA fragments from human brain tissue, as well as "driftnet" patenting such as that proposed by Agrecetus for any type of genetic manipulation of cotton. These issues are considered in light of how they may or may not compromise indigenous knowledge systems.

The second part of the report deals more specifically with the interplay between indigenous knowledge and biodiversity. Since the overwhelming majority of the earth’s biodiversity is found in the Southern hemisphere, industrial countries of the Northern hemisphere tend to go south of the equator in search of genetic resources. The conflicts between the two knowledge systems are examined; most interesting is the refutation of U.S. charges of piracy by third world countries with figures that suggest that in fact it is to the third world that a great debt is owed, particularly in light of the enormous profits of pharmaceutical transnational corporations.

The final section of the report argues that we are dependent upon one another globally and offers mutually beneficial alternatives to Western biased IPR systems including inventor’s certification and regulation built upon folklore models. What is most stressed is that indigenous people have the right to demand recognition of their intellectual labour and compensation for their contributions.

See also IPR info sheets Nos. 3, 6 and 7; Gillis, "The Patent Question of the Year", and Shiva, "Biodiversity and Intellectual Property Rights".