Activity 8.

Why We Must Fight Biopiracy

Name: Monica Marcela Tinjaca Castro

1. Find the following acronyms in the reading and mention:

 Their meanings
 Their functions (or what do they represent)
For instance:
TWN
Meaning: Third World Network
Function: It researches, publishes on, and organizes events about issues relating to
development.

Acronym Meaning Function (what do

they represent?)
IK Indigenous It refers to all the
knowledge indigenous knowledge
that is being violated,
such as dialect, 2. Read the
customs, etc. article
IPRs intellectual property refers to the general Why we
rights term for the must fight
assignment of property biopiracy
rights through and
patents, copyrights and answer
trademarks. these
TRIPs Trade Related To establish a series of questions.
Intellectual Property basic principles on (2 points)
Rights intellectual property
aimed at harmonizing  Who is
these systems among Martin
the signatory countries Khor?:
and in relation to Martin
world trade. Khor is
WTO World Trade It is director of
Organization an intergovernmental the Third
organization that is World
concerned with the Network —
regulation a non-profit
of international
trade between nations.
international network that researches, publishes on, and organizes events about
issues relating to development
  What is the main problem with Indigenous knowledge (IK)? The main problem
is that the companies and institutions from developed countries are using
intellectual property rights (IPRs) to misappropriate the IK of local communities.

 What is the function of the TRIPS?: to establish basic principles on intellectual

property aimed at harmonizing these systems among the signatory countries and in
relation to world trade.

 What is the solution to avoid biopiracy?: the solution would be to create patents
for biological resources and IK on the use of these resources

3. In your own words, do you think international organizations and governments

are truly fighting biopiracy? Yes/no, Explain. (2 points)

No, unfortunately, those who exercise biopiracy, as indicated in the text are those who are
part of developed countries, and are those who handle the threads of power, therefore, it is
very complex to deter them, also they are the ones who abuse customs, wisdom and
resources of the indigenous people of third world countries. They create the organizations
(developed countries) that seek to protect these property rights, however, for it to be really
effective, there is a great abyss, since there is no agreement.