Importancia de los conocimientos tradicionales, recursos genéticos y derechos de propiedad intelectual

Abstract

Genetic resources are the basis of human life, source of food, industrial raw materials, pharmaceuticals, and medicines. Its use can provide an economic benefit to the supplier and the consumer. Unfortunately, most of this genetic heritage is obtained from developing countries through biopiracy, including Ecuador. Intellectual property rights laws, in certain respects, can be used to protect traditional knowledge from its use. However, at the same time, the intellectual property regime also becomes “a tool” to legitimize biopiracy practices. This article presents a review on the importance of the conservation of genetic resources, the normative method, and the qualitative approach; identifying the types of protections that can be developed to protect genetic resources related to traditional knowledge.