A traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions council will be established to safeguard patents, trademarks, design and copyright material which a traditional or cultural owner has made.
After the consultation process, the Bill is scheduled to become law in November.
The provision is contained in the draft Bill that is in the consultation process by the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs.
The draft states the Minister for iTaukei Affairs will appoint the council.
The council will be made of the iTaukei Affairs Minister as chairman, three members who are designated representatives of traditional knowledge and cultural expressions owners, a lawyer, an economist or an accountant, a registered valuer, chairman of the iTaukei Land Commission, the Environment Minister, the Fisheries Minister, the Forestry Minister, the Agriculture Minister, the Lands Minister, the Education Minister, the iTaukei Land Trust Board general manager and the permanent secretary for iTaukei Affairs as secretary.
According to the draft, the council will monitor the maintenance and authorisation of consent and access to the Register of Collective Knowledge of iTaukei.
It will determine and maintain the Register of Licences granted for the use of communal knowledge and expressions of culture.
Among other things, the council will also determine ownership, fair and equitable compensation and analyse and determine the authenticity and best practice arrangement.
