Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Programme

the programme       the san hoodia project

Intellectual property rights (IPR) are a legal issue, but also a powerful economic force for development. Protimos was founded to promote greater equality between stakeholders in issues surrounding IPR and biodiversity.

In February 2008, as part of our IPR programme, Protimos hosted a Symposium at Cowley Manor, bringing together a wide range of stakeholders to discuss IPR issues, focusing on ‘Free Prior Informed Consent’ (‘FPIC’) and ‘Traditional Knowledge’ (‘TK’). Following the success of this event, The Protimos Cowley Manor Group was formed, and is now working to achieve the goals identified during the Symposium.

The principle project of our IPR programme is the San Hoodia Project, where Protimos lawyers are working in partnership with the San of Southern Africa to ensure that their intellectual property rights in the appetite-suppressing Hoodia plant are protected.