I.
INTERNATIONAL AUTHORITIES AND PRECEDENTS
1.
Draft United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
(UN 1994)
Article 29:
"Indigenous peoples are
entitled to the recognition of the full ownership, control and protection of
their cultural and intellectual property.”
They have the right to special
measures to control, develop and protect their sciences, technologies and
cultural manifestations, including human and other genetic resources, seeds,
medicines, knowledge of the properties of fauna and flora, oral traditions,
literatures, designs and visual and performing arts."
2.
Convention on Biological Diversity (1992)
Article
8 “In situ Conservation
Each Contracting Party shall, as
far as possible and as appropriate:
(j) Subject to its national
legislation, respect, preserve and maintain knowledge, innovations and
practices of indigenous and local communities embodying traditional
lifestyles relevant for the conservation and sustainable use of biological
diversity and promote their wider application with the approval and
involvement of the holders of such knowledge, innovations and practices and
encourage the equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the utilization
of such knowledge, innovations and practices.”
Article 10: “Sustainable Use of
Components of Biological Diversity
Each Contracting Party shall, as
far as possible and as appropriate:
(c) Protect and encourage
customary use of biological resources in accordance with traditional
cultural practices that are compatible with conservation or sustainable use
requirements”.
Article 15: Access to Genetic
Resources
(5) "Access to genetic
resources shall be subject to prior informed consent of the Contracting
Party providing such resources, unless otherwise determined by that
Party."
(7) "Each Contracting Party
shall take legislative, administrative or policy measures, as
appropriate...with the aim of sharing in a fair and equitable way the
results of research and development and the benefits arising from the
commercial and other utilization of genetic resources with the Contracting
Party providing such resources. Such
sharing shall be upon mutually agreed terms.”
3.
The Rome Copyright Convention (1961)
Article 2:
Protection given by the
Convention. Definition of National Treatment
1. For the purposes of
this Convention, national treatment shall mean the treatment accorded by the
domestic law of the Contracting State in which protection is claimed:
a. to performers who are
its nationals, as regards performances taking place, broadcast, or first
fixed, on its territory;
b. to producers of
phonograms who are its nationals, as regards phonograms first fixed or first
published on its territory;
c. to broadcasting
organizations which have their headquarters on its territory, as regards
broadcast transmitted from transmitters situated on tis territory.
2. National treatment
shall be subject to the protection specifically guaranteed, and the
limitations specifically provided for in this Convention.
4.
Berlin Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works
(1971)
Article
1: "The countries to which the present convention applies are
constituted into a Union for the protection of the rights of authors over
their literary and artistic works."
Article 2(1): The term
"literary and artistic works" shall include every production in
the literary, scientific and artistic domain, whatever may be the mode or
form of its expression, such as books, pamphlets and other writings;
lectures, addresses, sermons and other works of the same nature; dramatic or
dramatico-musical works, choreographic works and entertainments in dumb
show, musical compositions with or without words; cinematographic works to
which are assimilated works expressed by a process analogous to
cinematography; works of drawing, painting, architecture, sculpture,
engraving and lithography; photographic works to which are assimilated works
expressed by a process analogous to photography; works of applied art;
illustrations, maps, plans, sketches and three-dimensional works relative to
geography, topography, architecture or science.
5.
Paris Convention for the Protection for the Protection of Industrial
Property (1883)
Article
1(1): "The countries to which the present convention applies are
constituted into a Union for the protection of industrial property."
Article 1(3):
"Industrial property shall be understood in the broadest sense
and shall apply not only to industry and commerce proper, but likewise to
agriculture and extractive industries and to all manufactured or natural
products, for examples, wines, grain, tobacco leaf, fruit, cattle, minerals,
mineral water, beer, flowers, and flour."
6.
Patent Cooperation Treaty (1970)
Article
(1): "The States party to this Treaty...constitute a Union for
cooperation in the filing, searching, and examination, of applications for
the protection of inventions..."
7.
Universal Copyright Convention (1971)
Article
I: "Each Contracting State undertakes to provide for the adequate and
effective protection of the rights of authors and other copyright
proprietors in literary, scientific and artistic works, including writings,
musical, dramatic and cinematographic works, and paintings, engravings and
sculpture."
8. Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, General
Recommendation XXIII (51) Concerning Indigenous Peoples (August 1997)
Para.
4: "The Committee calls in particular upon States parties to:
d. ensure that members of
indigenous peoples have equal rights in respect of effective participation
in public life, and that no decisions directly relating to their rights and
interests are taken without their informed consent;"
9.
Universal Declaration on the Human Genome and Human Rights, adopted
by the General Conference (UNESCO 1997)
"…Recognizing
that research on the human genome and the resulting applications open up
vast prospects for progress in improving the health of individuals and of
humankind as a whole, but emphasizing
that such research should fully respect human dignity, freedom and human
rights, as as the prohibition
of all forms of discrimination based on genetic characteristics..."
Article
5 (b): "In all cases, the
prior, free and informed consent of the person concerned shall be obtained.
If the latter is not in a position to consent, consent or authorization
shall be obtained in the manner prescribed by law, guided by the person's
best interest."
10. Non-Legally Binding Authoritative Statement of Principles for a
Global Consensus on the Management, Conservation and Sustainable Development
of All Types of Forests (UN doc. 1992)
Para. 12(d): "Appropriate
indigenous capacity and local knowledge regarding the conservation and
sustainable development of forests should, through institutional and
financial support and in collaboration with the people in the local
communities concerned, be recognized, respected, recorded, developed and, as
appropriate, introduced in the implementation of programmes.
Benefits arising form the utilization of indigenous knowledge should
therefore be equitably shared with such people."
11.
Informe de la relatora Especial de la Subcomisión de Prevención de
Discriminaciones y Protección a las Minorías sobre la “Protección del
patrimonio de los pueblos indígenas (UN 1986).
159.
"Los pueblos indígenas han sido vulnerables a la pérdida de su
patrimonio como entidades diferentes. Como por lo general
los gobiernos los consideran “atrasados”, han sido objeto de políticas
agresivas de asimilación cultural. Con
frecuencia sus artes y conocimientos no se consideraron como tesoros
mundiales sino que simplemente se destruyeron durante el proceso de
colonización. A menudo se dio
más valor a sus cuerpos que a su cultura, que fue coleccionada por museos.
El turismo, una creciente demanda de arte “primitivo” por los
consumidores y el desarrollo de la biotechnología amenazan ahora la
capacidad de los pueblos indígenas para proteger lo que queda de su
patrimonio”.
12.
Agenda 21: Programme of Action for Sustainable for Sustainable
Development, Rio Declaration on Environment and Development. Statement of
Principles. Final Text of Agreements Negotiated by Governments at UNCED
Conference, June 1992, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
26.4.
"Some indigenous people and their communities may require, in
accordance with national legislation, greater control over their lands,
self-management of their resources, participation in development decisions
affecting them, including, where appropriate, participation in the
establishment or management of protected areas. The following are some of
the specific measures which Governments could take:
(b) Adopt or strengthen
appropriate policies and/or legal instruments that will protect indigenous
intellectual and cultural property and the right to preserve customary and
administrative systems and practices."
II.
DOMESTIC AUTHORITIES AND PRECEDENTS
13. Brazil
Estatuto das sociedades indigenas (Proyecto de ley)
Art. 14: Integram o patrimônio indígena
IV. “o direito autoral, e sobre obras artísticas de
criação das próprias comunidades indígenas, incluídos os direitos de
imagem;
V. os direitos sobre as tecnologias, obras científicas
e inventos de criação das comunidades indígenas”.
Art. 18 - É assegurado às comunidades indígenas o
direito fundamental de manter sob absoluto sigilo e confidencialidade todo e
qualquer conhecimento tradicional que detenham, em especial sobre características
ou propriedades de ecossistemas e habitats naturais, espécies vivas,
vegetais ou animais, microorganismos, fármacos e essências naturais, ou
quaisquer recursos ou processos biológicos ou genéticos.
§ 1º - O direito das comunidades indígenas a que se
refere o caput inclui a faculdade de recusar, sem qualquer justificativa, o
acesso a terceiros a seus conhecimentos tradicionais, ou de recusar autorização
para a divulgação ou utilização, para fins científicos, comerciais ou
industriais, sob qualquer forma, de seus conhecimentos tradicionais.
§ 2º - A violação deste direito fundamental das
comunidades indígenas, com a apropriação ou utilização indevida, sob
qualquer forma, de seus conhecimentos tradicionais, sujeitará os infratores
a responsabilidade criminal, definida nesta lei, bem como à
responsabilidade civil por todos os danos morais e materiais causados às
comunidades indígenas.
Art. 19 - É assegurado às comunidades e sociedades
indígenas, bem como a qualquer um de seus membros, o direito de requerer
patente de invenção, modelo de utilidade, modelo industrial ou registro de
desenho industrial desenvolvidos com base em seus conhecimentos tradicionais
coletivos.
§ 1º - As patentes ou registros a que se refere o
caput serão sempre concedidos em nome da comunidade ou sociedade indígena
respectiva, quando se tratar de invenção, modelo ou desenho industrial
desenvolvidos com base em conhecimentos tradicionais coletivos, pertencentes
a toda a comunidade ou sociedade indígena e transmitidos a novas gerações
de acordo com usos, costumes e tradições indígenas, vedada, nestes casos,
a concessão de patente ou registro em nome individual, sob pena de
nulidade.
§ 2º - As comunidades e sociedades indígenas estão
isentas do pagamento das respectivas anuidades e de quaisquer tributos, não
podendo o órgão federal de proteção à propriedade industrial, em
qualquer hipótese, se recusar a apreciar pedido de concessão de patente ou
registro por falta de pagamento das mesmas.
Art. 20 - O acesso, a utilização e a aplicação de
conhecimentos tradicionais indígenas em pesquisas científicas que tenham
finalidade industrial ou comercial só podem ser realizados mediante o
consentimento prévio e por escrito das comunidades indígenas, sob pena de
responsabilidade criminal, definida nesta lei, e cível.
§ 1º - O ato de consentimento das comunidades indígenas,
a que se refere o caput, está subordinado a contrato escrito, celebrado com
a assistência do Ministério Público Federal, que estipule as condições
específicas em que será permitido o acesso, a utilização ou aplicação
dos conhecimentos tradicionais indígenas, e fixe remuneração justa e eqüitativa
para a comunidade indígena, bem como sua participação nos benefícios
auferidos com a utilização industrial ou comercial dos resultados das
pesquisas.
§ 2º - Qualquer utilização ou aplicação,
industrial ou comercial, de conhecimentos tradicionais indígenas, não
previstos no ato de consentimento inicial da comunidade indígena, a que se
refere o parágrafo anterior, estão sujeitos a nova autorização da
comunidade; sendo expressamente proibida qualquer utilização ou aplicação
industrial ou comercial não autorizada de conhecimentos tradicionais indígenas.
§ 3º - Salvo estipulação em contrário no ato de
consentimento da comunidade indígena, quaisquer informações prestadas por
seus membros, envolvendo conhecimentos tradicionais indígenas, de natureza
coletiva, serão confidenciais, e não poderão ser transmitidas a terceiros
sem a sua prévia autorização por escrito.
§ 4º - São nulos e extintos, não produzindo efeitos
jurídicos, quaisquer atos ou contratos firmados por comunidades ou
sociedades indígenas com terceiros que permitam o acesso, a utilização ou
aplicação, industrial ou comercial, de conhecimentos tradicionais indígenas
em pesquisas científicas sem a previsão expressa de co-titularidade da
propriedade de todos os resultados das pesquisas e de todos os seus produtos
derivados.
§ 5º - Não se aplicam as exigências previstas neste
artigo às pesquisas científicas ou acadêmicas desenvolvidas em áreas indígenas
sem finalidades lucrativas.
Art. 21 - As comunidades ou sociedades indígenas cujos
conhecimentos ou modelos tenham sido utilizados, direta ou indiretamente, no
desenvolvimento de invenção, modelo de utilidade, modelo industrial ou
desenho industrial serão sempre co-titulares das patentes ou registros
industriais requeridos por terceiros, independentemente de formulação de
pedido por parte das mesmas.
§ 1º - Os requerentes de patentes sobre invenções,
modelos ou desenhos desenvolvidos nas condições a que se refere o caput
deverão indicar quais comunidades ou sociedades indígenas devem constar
como co-titulares da patente, sob pena de nulidade absoluta da mesma.
§ 2º - As comunidades, sociedades ou organizações
indígenas poderão impugnar, administrativa ou judicialmente, a indicação
a que se refere o parágrafo anterior.
Art. 30 - Às obras intelectuais e criações de espírito
produzidas por índios, de forma individual, aplicam-se as normas de proteção
aos direitos autorais estabelecidas na legislação em vigor.
Art. 31 - As comunidades e sociedades indígenas são
titulares de direitos morais e patrimoniais sobre as suas obras intelectuais
e criações de espírito coletivamente produzidas, de qualquer modo
exteriorizadas, tais como:
I - as composições musicais, tenham ou não letra,
sejam ou não escritas;
II - as conferências, alocuções e outras da mesma
natureza;
III - as obras coreográficas e pantomímicas, sejam ou
não escritas;
IV - as obras dramáticas e dramático-musicais;
V - as obras artesanais, gráficas, plásticas e
ilustrativas, tais como ilustrações, desenhos, pinturas, gravuras,
litografia, esculturas e outras congêneres;
VI - as obras arquitetônicas e cenográficas;
VII
- todas e quaisquer outras obras intelectuais ou criações do espírito das
próprias comunidades ou sociedades indígenas, ainda que transmitidas pela
tradição oral, e independentemente de sua origem temporal.
14.
Canada
Royal
Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, Vol 3 Recommendations
“The
federal government, in collaboration with Aboriginal people, review its
legislation on the protection of intellectual property to ensure that
Aboriginal interests and perspectives, in particular collective interests,
are adequately protected.”
15. Colombia
Constitución Política de Colombia
Articulo
72. "El Patrimonio cultural de la Nación esta bajo la protección del
Estado. El patrimonio arquelógico
y otros bienes culturales que conforman la identidad nacional, pertenecen a
la Nación y son inalienables, embaragables, e imprescriptibles. La ley establecerá los mecanismos para readquirirlos cuando
se encuentren en manos de particulares y reglamentará los derechos
especiales que pudieran tener los grupos étnicos asentados en territorios
de riqueza arqueológica”.
16. Chile
Ley No. 19.253
Articulo 19: "Los indígenas gozarán del
derecho a ejercer comunitariamente actividades en los sitios sagrados o
ceremoniales, cementerios, canchas de guillatrin, apachetas, campos
deportivos y otros espacios territoriales de uso, cultural o recreativo, que
sean de propiedad fiscal”.
Articulo
28(f): "El reconocimiento, respeto y protección de las culturas e
idiomas indígenas contemplará: La promoción de las expresiones artísticas
y culturales y la protección del patrimonio arquitectónico, arqueológico,
cultural e histórico indígena”.
17.
United
States
- Executive Order to Protect
American Indian Sacred Sites (May 24, 1996)
Section 1: US executive branch
agencies “shall to the extent practicable, permitted by law, and not
clearly inconsistent with essential agency functions,” “(1)accommodate
access to and ceremonial use of Indian sacred sites by Indian religious
practitioners and (2) avoid adversely affecting the physical integrity of
such sacred sites. Where
appropriate, agencies shall maintain the confidentiality of sacred sites.”
Section 2(b): agencies with
management responsibilities over federal land will report on “procedures
implemented or proposed to facilitate consultation with appropriate Indian
tribes and religious leaders.”
-
National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (NHPA), 16 U.S.C. 470 et seq.
Under this Act, the US government
took a more aggressive role in preserving its “historical and cultural
foundations” by “accelerat[ing] its historic preservation programs and
activities” and “assist[ing] State and local governments, Indian tribes
and Native Hawaiian organization” in their own preservation programs
through increased consultation, and exchanges of financial assistance. §
470(1)(b)(7)2(6). A National
Register of Historic Places was established, §470(a), whereby sites on this
list can include “[p]roperties of traditional religious and cultural
importance to an Indian tribe or Native Hawaiian organization,” §470(a).
Consultations with Indian tribes or Native Hawaiians are required
where they may “attach[] religious and cultural significance to
properties...” §470(a). Once on the list, the effect on the site must be
considered during any planning or execution of any “proposed federal or
federally assisted undertaking.” §470(f). Tribes must be consulted during
this process as well. 36 C.F.R. §800.
Moreover, a "tribe may assume all of any part of the functions
of a State Historic Preservation Officer...with respect to tribal
lands...”, §470(a). Lastly,
the Act provides that the federal agency may keep the location of these
sites confidential where there is fear that disclosure could "cause
significant invasion of privacy; (2) risk harm to the historic resource; or
(3) impede the use of a traditional religious site by practitioners.” §470(w).
-
Archeological Resource Protection Act, 16 U.S.C. 470aa-470mm
The
Act’s purpose is to “[s]ecure, for the present and future benefit of the
American people, the protection of archaeological resources and sites which
are on public lands and Indian lands” §470aa and requires a permit before
any person can "excavate or removal any archeological resource.” §
470cc(a). Where the permit issued “may result in harm to or destruction of
any religious or cultural site...the Federal land manager, before issuing
such permit, shall notify any Indian tribe which may consider the site as
having religious or cultural importance.” §470cc(c). “In the case of
any permits for the excavation or removal of any archaeological resource
located on Indian lands, the permit may be granted [by the Federal land
manager] only after obtaining the consent of the Indian or Indian tribe
owning or having jurisdiction over such lands.
The permit shall include such terms and conditions as may be
requested by such Indian or Indian tribe.”
§ 470cc(g)(2).
- Native American Graves
Protection and Repatriation Act, 25 USC 3001 et seq.
Provides for the repatriation to
Indian tribes of Native American human remains, funerary objects, sacred
objects, and cultural patrimony that are excavated or discovered on federal
or tribal lands or that are currently in the control of federal agencies or
museums receiving federal funding.
18. Guatemala
Agreement
on Identity and Rights of Indigenous Peoples
Article III.F. Science and technology
1. The existence and value of the
scientific and technological knowledge of the Maya and other indigenous
peoples are recognized. This legacy must be retrieved, developed and
disseminated.
2. The Government undertakes to
promote the study and dissemination of this knowledge and to help put it to
practical use. Universities, academic centres, the communications media,
non-governmental organizations and international cooperation agencies are
urged to validate and publicize the scientific and technical contributions
of indigenous peoples.
3. Furthermore, the Government
shall facilitate access by indigenous peoples to contemporary knowledge and
shall promote scientific and technical exchanges.
19.
Mexico
-Ley de derechos de los
pueblos y comunidades indígenas del Estado de Oaxaca
Articulo 22: “Los pueblos y comunidades indígenas
tienen derecho al respeto pleno de la propiedad, control y protección de su
patrimonio cultural e intelectual. El Estado, por medio de sus instituciones
competentes y consenso con los pueblos y las comunidades indígenas, dictará
las medidas idóneas para la eficaz protección de sus ciencias, tecnologías
y manifestaciones cultutrales, comprendidos los recursos humanos y biológicos,
así como el conocimiento de las propiedades de la fauna y la flora,
minerales, tradiciones orales, literaturas, diseños y artes visuales y dramáticas”.
20. Nicaragua
Constitution of Nicaragua
Article
128: “The state protects the archeological, historical, linguistic,
cultural and artistic patrimony of the nation.”
21. Panama
Regimen Especial de la Comarca Kuna Yala
-Articulo
13: "El Congreso General de la Cultura Kuna es el organismo de expresión
religioso de protección, conservación y divulgación del patrimonio histórico
cultural del pueblo Kuna”.
-Articulo
38: "Los sitios y objectos arqueológicos, documentos, monumentos históricos
y cualquier otro bien mueble e inmueble que sean testimonio del pasado
pueblo Kuna, son del Patrimonio de la Comarca y las cuales estarán bajo la
custodia del Congreso. Para
tales efectos, el Congreso, através de la Comisión del Centro de
Investigación Kuna buscará los mecanismos adecuados para custodio y
conservación, conjuntamente con la Dirección Nacional del Patrimonio Histórico
del Instituto Nacional de Cultura”.
22. Venezuela
-Constitución Política de la República de
Venezuela
Articulo
124: "Se garantiza y protege la propiedad intelectual colectiva de los
conocimientos, tecnologías e innovaciones de los pueblos indígenas.
Toda actividad relacionada con los recursos genéticos
y los conocimientos asociados a los mismos perseguirán beneficios
colectivos. Se prohíbe el
registro de patentes sobre estos recursos y conocimientos ancestrales”.
-Ley Indígena
Articulo 6: "Para conservar el patrimonio
arqueológico nacional, quedan prohibidas búsqueda y extracción de huacas
en los cementerlos indígenas, con excepción de exploraciones científicas
autorizadas por instituciones oficiales.
En todo caso éstas necesitarán la autorización de la comunidad indígena
y de la CONAI”.
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