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All Rights Reserved

Workshop on Intellectual Property Rights for Indian Tribes, March 19-20, 2003

Just in time for Denver March Powwow the International Institute for Indigenous Resource Management announces a workshop on intellectual property rights for Indian tribes.

The International Institute for Indigenous Resource Management
444 South Emerson Street
Denver, Colorado 80209-2216
Phone: (303) 733-0481; FAX: (303) 744-9808
E-Mail: iiirm@iiirm.org

PRESENTS WORKSHOP: AN INTRODUCTION TO INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS FOR INDIAN TRIBES

Designed for Tribal Council Members, Attorneys, Cultural Resource Managers, Planners, Economic Development Staff, School Administrators, and Information Technology Personnel

March 19-20, 2003
Red Lion Hotel/Denver Central
4040 Quebec Street
Denver, Colorado 80216
Phone: 303-321-6666

*Who owns tribal stories?
*Who owns the traditional knowledge of native peoples?
*What information can a tribe post to its website?
*Can our genes be patented?
*Does the tribe have bootlegged or pirated copies of *Software on its computers?
*Do the reading materials for courses in the tribal college and high school violate any laws?
*What is the tribe's liability for copyright violations?

The intellectual property issues confronting tribal decision-makers are more varied and more complex than for most businesses. On one hand tribes need to protect their stories, knowledge, and symbols but on the other, indigenous peoples are generally opposed to the notion of calling these parts of their heritage property. This workshop, intended for tribal council members, tribal attorneys, cultural resource managers, economic development staff, school administrators and information technicians, answers these questions, introduces traditional concepts of intellectual property, and outlines alternative approaches to protect tribal resources.

PROGRAM SESSIONS INCLUDE:

Overview and History of Intellectual Property Rights In the Context of International Law and the International Indigenous Peoples Movement, Internet Issues, Licensing Agreements and other Legal Tools Available to Protect Intellectual Property

Examples and Case Studies, e.g., Washington Redskins and Mascots, King Island, Hopi Blue Corn, Bioprospecting, The Human Genome Project, Model Tribal Code, Protection Issues, Fair Use and Infringement Issues

FACULTY

David J. Stephenson, Jr. is an intellectual property attorney and an anthropologist. He has published many articles on indigenous intellectual property issues and has participated in numerous international legal, anthropology, and ethnobiology conferences.

Mervyn L. Tano is an attorney and the president of the International Institute for Indigenous Resource Management. He is the principal investigator on a project to examine the ethical, legal, and social implications of the Human Genome Project and has written extensively on strategies to protect tribal intellectual property and genetic resources.

Kyra Lit is a researcher with the International Institute for Indigenous Resource Management. She has most recently been examining the role of geographic indicators to protect tribal genetic resources.

LOGISTICS:

All workshop sessions will be held at the Red Lion Hotel/Denver Central, 4040 Quebec Street, Denver, Colorado. Rooms are available to Denver March Powwow attendees at the special rate of $65.00 (single and double) per night and to all others at $79-$99 per night. For reservations, call the Red Lion Hotel/Denver Central, phone: 303-321-6666 or 1-800-REDLION. Be sure to Mention Denver March Pow-Wow if you qualify for the special rate. Registration begins at noon; workshop begins at 1:00 p.m.

REGISTRATION INFORMATION:

Registration Fee: $425 for registrants from tribes and indigenous organizations, $450 for other registrants. Tuition includes morning and afternoon coffee service and one copy of the workshop materials. For information on multiple registrations from one tribe or other information call the International Institute at for Indigenous Resource Management at 303-282-4702. Make payments to: IIIRM, 444 South Emerson Street, Denver, CO 80209-2216.

Mervyn L. Tano, President
International Institute for Indigenous Resource Management
444 South Emerson Street
Denver, Colorado 80209-2216 U.S.A.
Phone: 303-733-0481; Mobile: 720-341-4755; FAX: 303-744-9808 E-mail: mervtano@iiirm.org

For more information about the International Institute for Indigenous Resource Management visit IIIRM on the web.