Work

TIP focuses its services primarily around the following three programme areas:

Health

Health is the number one issue for people around the world in both low or high income countries. Medicines are now available to treat some of the most complex diseases that previous generations could not even imagine. Yet, many children die of such simple causes as malnutrition, unclean water and treatable diseases. While the problem is complex, the world needs to find ways to deliver existing treatments to those who need it and to develop new medicines to treat tomorrow’s problems. The medicines that were easy to find have been found. As we tackle ever more complex diseases, we must find ways to develop tomorrow’s products. To do so will require innovative solutions that involve sharing knowledge, not hoarding it. TIP works with government agencies, international organizations, NGOs, industry, scientists and others to find these solutions.

For examples of our work, click here.

Indigenous and Local Knowledge

Communities around the world feel that their culture and traditions are under threat from globalisation, value differences between generations and environmental change. Indigenous communities have, in particular, survived years of marginalisation and lack of respect. With growing awareness of their concerns, the moment is ripe for communities and, in particular, indigenous peoples to develop policies to preserve their culture and the respect they deserve. TIP is here to support those communities that want help in developing these policies. We will provide information to the community as a whole, as well as hands-on advice to community leaders on how to preserve their culture and knowledge for future generations and to protect their knowledge from unauthorized appropriation and commercialization. We conduct our work only in partnership with communities, on their terms and on those subjects that they choose.

For examples of our work, click here.

The Arts

The author, musician, artist and creator lie at the heart of why we have intellectual property laws. But too often these artists feel marginalised in debates about the shape and function of copyright, trade-mark and other intellectual property rights. TIP assists artists in understanding and contributing to policy discussions on intellectual property. Our goal is to assist artistic communities and policy-makers to better communicate with one another and to find ways to ensure that intellectual property furthers, and does not hinder, the creative process in the arts.

For examples of our work, click here.