Protection and preservation of expressions of indeginous culture - A perspective from Papua New Guinea

Abstract

The paper argues that the search for a suitable regulatory regime for expressions of indigenous culture and traditional knowledge in Papua New Guinea, and perhaps internationally, can be significantly enhanced if we separate and streamline the issues and the accompanying language, which are on the one hand a regime for the preservation of culture, and on the other, intellectual property rights (IPR). In Papua New Guinea, the National Cultural Commission should therefore be encouraged to focus its attention on the preservation of culture, but be vigilant to any dangers that IPR may pose for such preservation.