Traditional Knowledge Laws: Philippines

Trigger of Disclosure

Rule 12

Section 3 Disclosures. Disclosure of potential IPRs and/or all biodiversity and genetic resource, traditional knowledge, and indigenous knowledge, systems and practices shall be governed by the following rules:

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(c) With respect to biodiversity, genetic resources or materials associated traditional knowledge, and indigenous knowledge, systems and practices, the following provisions shall govern:

i.          The RDI shall provide the GFA with a written disclosure on the following: (1) any biodiversity, genetic resources or materials, associated traditional knowledge, and indigenous knowledge, systems and practices utilized in or which formed as basis in the development of the subject matter contained in the IPR application; (2) the primary source of any biodiversity, genetic resources or materials, associated traditional knowledge, and indigenous knowledge, systems and practices utilized in or which formed as basis in the subject matter contained in the IPR application; or (3) the secondary source, if no information about the primary source is available.

ii.         The disclosure requirement under this section shall apply when the subject matter contained in a national or international IPR application is directly based on any biodiversity, genetic resources or materials, traditional knowledge, and indigenous knowledge, systems and practices to which the RDI has had access to prior to the filing of the IPR application. The subject matter contained in the IPR application must depend on the specific properties of, or must be consciously derived from, such biodiversity and genetic resource or materials, traditional knowledge, and indigenous knowledge, systems and practices.

iii.        Where the RDI, for reasons beyond its control, does not have the necessary information to fulfill the disclosure requirement pertaining to any biodiversity, genetic resources or materials, traditional knowledge, and indigenous knowledge, systems and practices, such as, for instance, where a plant stored in a gene bank was collected decades ago and no information about its source exists, the RDI shall submit an affidavit from its  researcher/s that the latter do not have the necessary information or that the source is unknown, and state the reasons thereof. The GFA shall review the affidavit to determine if this will constitute compliance with the disclosure requirement under this rule.

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v.         A national or international IPR application filed by the RDI before the appropriate IP office shall include in the abstract and/or description of said application the same disclosure on biodiversity, genetic resources or materials, associated traditional knowledge, and indigenous knowledge, systems and practices utilized in or which formed as basis in the development of the subject matter contained in the said application, notwithstanding that such disclosure may not be required for the grant or issuance of certificate of IPR registration.

Content of Disclosure

Rule 12

Section 3 Disclosures. Disclosure of potential IPRs and/or all biodiversity and genetic resource, traditional knowledge, and indigenous knowledge, systems and practices shall be governed by the following rules:

[…]

(c) With respect to biodiversity, genetic resources or materials associated traditional knowledge, and indigenous knowledge, systems and practices, the following provisions shall govern:

i.          The RDI shall provide the GFA with a written disclosure on the following: (1) any biodiversity, genetic resources or materials, associated traditional knowledge, and indigenous knowledge, systems and practices utilized in or which formed as basis in the development of the subject matter contained in the IPR application; (2) the primary source of any biodiversity, genetic resources or materials, associated traditional knowledge, and indigenous knowledge, systems and practices utilized in or which formed as basis in the subject matter contained in the IPR application; or (3) the secondary source, if no information about the primary source is available.

ii.         The disclosure requirement under this section shall apply when

the subject matter contained in a national or international IPR application is directly based on any biodiversity, genetic resources or materials, traditional knowledge, and indigenous knowledge, systems and practices to which the RDI has had access to prior to the filing of the IPR application. The subject matter contained in the IPR application must depend on the specific properties of, or must be consciously derived from, such biodiversity and genetic resource or materials, traditional knowledge, and indigenous knowledge, systems and practices.

iii.        Where the RDI, for reasons beyond its control, does not have the necessary information to fulfill the disclosure requirement pertaining to any biodiversity, genetic resources or materials, traditional knowledge, and indigenous knowledge, systems and practices, such as, for instance, where a plant stored in a gene bank was collected decades ago and no information about its source exists, the RDI shall submit an affidavit from its  researcher/s that the latter do not have the necessary information or that the source is unknown, and state the reasons thereof. The GFA shall review the affidavit to determine if this will constitute compliance with the disclosure requirement under this rule.

[…]

v.         A national or international IPR application filed by the RDI before the appropriate IP office shall include in the abstract and/or description of said application the same disclosure on biodiversity, genetic resources or materials, associated traditional knowledge, and indigenous knowledge, systems and practices utilized in or which formed as basis in the development of the subject matter contained in the said application, notwithstanding that such disclosure may not be required for the grant or issuance of certificate of IPR registration.

Consequences of Non-Compliance

Rule 12

Section 3 Disclosures. Disclosure of potential IPRs and/or all biodiversity and genetic resource, traditional knowledge, and indigenous knowledge, systems and practices shall be governed by the following rules:

[…]

(c) With respect to biodiversity, genetic resources or materials associated traditional knowledge, and indigenous knowledge, systems and practices, the following provisions shall govern:

i.          The RDI shall provide the GFA with a written disclosure on the following: (1) any biodiversity, genetic resources or materials, associated traditional knowledge, and indigenous knowledge, systems and practices utilized in or which formed as basis in the development of the subject matter contained in the IPR application; (2) the primary source of any biodiversity, genetic resources or materials, associated traditional knowledge, and indigenous knowledge, systems and practices utilized in or which formed as basis in the subject matter contained in the IPR application; or (3) the secondary source, if no information about the primary source is available.

ii.         The disclosure requirement under this section shall apply when

the subject matter contained in a national or international IPR application is directly based on any biodiversity, genetic resources or materials, traditional knowledge, and indigenous knowledge, systems and practices to which the RDI has had access to prior to the filing of the IPR application. The subject matter contained in the IPR application must depend on the specific properties of, or must be consciously derived from, such biodiversity and genetic resource or materials, traditional knowledge, and indigenous knowledge, systems and practices.

iii.        Where the RDI, for reasons beyond its control, does not have the necessary information to fulfill the disclosure requirement pertaining to any biodiversity, genetic resources or materials, traditional knowledge, and indigenous knowledge, systems and practices, such as, for instance, where a plant stored in a gene bank was collected decades ago and no information about its source exists, the RDI shall submit an affidavit from its  researcher/s that the latter do not have the necessary information or that the source is unknown, and state the reasons thereof. The GFA shall review the affidavit to determine if this will constitute compliance with the disclosure requirement under this rule.

[…]

v.         A national or international IPR application filed by the RDI before the appropriate IP office shall include in the abstract and/or description of said application the same disclosure on biodiversity, genetic resources or materials, associated traditional knowledge, and indigenous knowledge, systems and practices utilized in or which formed as basis in the development of the subject matter contained in the said application, notwithstanding that such disclosure may not be required for the grant or issuance of certificate of IPR registration.