A New Direction in Intellectual Property Treaty-making? Winning Against the Odds for Human Rights, Equity, and Indigenous Peoples

The School of Law, University of Leeds, is hosting a two-day international conference on “A New Direction in Intellectual Property Treaty-Making?” on 8–9 May 2025. The conference is part-funded by the Society of Legal Scholars.

Theme:

Since the World Trade Organization introduced the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS Agreement) in 1995, global intellectual property (IP) standards have elevated significantly, often favouring rights holders from high-income countries. This conference will focus on two major post-TRIPS treaties negotiated under WIPO: the 2013 Marrakesh Treaty and the 2024 WIPO Treaty on Intellectual Property Rights, Genetic Resources, and Associated Traditional Knowledge. These treaties represent a departure from traditional IP norms that predominantly benefit corporations in the Global North. By expanding the scope of non-infringing activity or re-balancing rights with the interests of vulnerable groups, they promote fundamental legal change in favour of the (hitherto) unfavoured.

This conference aims to contribute to global discussions on IP treaty-making, enhance synergies between intangible property and sustainable human development, and explore how marginalised groups, such as Indigenous peoples and persons with disabilities, can successfully influence treaty outcomes.

Conference Organising Committee:

Graham Dutfield, School of Law

Subhajit Basu, School of Law

Ioanna Lapatoura, School of Law

Cesar Ramirez Montes, School of Law

Rebecca Moosavian, School of Law

Igor Szpotakowski, School of Law

Amaka Vanni, School of Law