Intellectual and Cultural Property Rights of Indigenous and Tribal Peoples in Asia

http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/pdfid/469cbf970.pdf

By Michael A. Bengwayan  for the Minority Rights Group International (MRG).

This book examines the threat that indigenous people in Asia face on a daily basis – loss of land, resources and reserves. Another threat is to their collective knowledge. Multinational companies are commercializing their cultural practices and images for resale and the tourism industry. This document discusses the protection of indigenous rights at the UN/international level. This article identifies the gaps between international discussions and the local/regional level issues. It highlights the struggles of Asian people in protecting their intellectual property rights. It provides clear case examples from all over Asia.