How IP Safeguards Culture
Takeaways from My Conversation with Edward Kwakwa of the World Intellectual Property Organization.
Intellectual property is often seen as a legal technicality—something for lawyers and corporations to navigate. But in my recent conversation with Edward Kwakwa, Assistant Director General at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) based in Geneva, Switzerland, we uncovered just how deeply IP shapes our daily lives, fuels innovation, and even intersects with global challenges.
Here are three major takeaways from our full conversation that everyone—whether you’re an artist, an entrepreneur, or just curious about the future of innovation—should keep in mind.
1. Intellectual Property is for Everyone
One of the first things Edward emphasized is that IP isn’t just a legal framework—it’s a tool for empowerment. If you’re a musician, a filmmaker, a small business owner, a fashion designer, or even an AI developer, IP plays a critical role in protecting your work and ensuring that you benefit from what you create.
He broke it down simply: IP is about recognizing, respecting, and generating value from the work of the mind—whether that’s an invention, a brand, a piece of music, or even traditional knowledge that has been passed down through generations.
Edward also highlighted that IP evolves alongside society. With social media, streaming platforms, and AI-generated content, new IP challenges are emerging. Who owns a viral video? Can an AI-generated painting be copyrighted? These are questions that WIPO and legal experts worldwide are grappling with—showing just how relevant IP is to modern culture.
The key takeaway? If you’re creating something, you should understand your rights. IP is not just for corporations—it’s for individuals, small businesses, and communities too.
2. Traditional Knowledge and Traditional Cultural Expressions Deserve Protection Too
One of the most fascinating parts of our discussion was about traditional knowledge —the deep, historical knowledge and skills of indigenous and local communities around the world. Historically, these forms of creativity and innovation haven’t always been recognized or protected under traditional IP laws.
But that’s changing. In 2024, WIPO passed its first-ever treaty addressing the intersection of intellectual property, genetic resources, and traditional knowledge. This is a landmark achievement, setting new global standards for fair and equitable sharing of benefits derived from traditional resources—whether it’s a plant used in medicine or a design element from indigenous textiles being incorporated into global fashion.
Edward shared an example from his home country of Ghana, where Kente cloth is now recognized as a geographical indication—meaning its name and origin are protected from misuse. This is similar to how “Champagne” can only refer to sparkling wine from a specific region in France.
The broader message? Culture has value, and protecting traditional knowledge is just as important as protecting modern inventions. This treaty is a step toward ensuring that indigenous communities and knowledge holders have a say in how their cultural assets are used and monetized.
3. The Future of IP Must Be More Inclusive—Especially for Women, Youth, and Small Businesses
IP has traditionally been dominated by large corporations, major tech firms, and legal experts. But Edward made it clear: the future of IP must be more inclusive.
At WIPO, there’s a strong push to expand access and awareness for groups that have historically been underrepresented in the IP system. Edward highlighted three key groups that need more inclusion:
Women entrepreneurs – WIPO’s Women in Entrepreneurship Program is helping women innovators use IP to brand, protect, and grow their businesses.
Youth – With over 50% of Africa’s population under 25, engaging young creators and entrepreneurs is essential to shaping the future of innovation.
Small businesses – Many people associate IP with large corporations, but small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) need to understand and leverage IP protections just as much.
The takeaway here? IP is a tool for empowerment, not a barrier. The more we make it accessible to all creators, the more we foster innovation on a global scale.
Conclusion
By pursuing our mission to understand and reveal the beauty and utility of intellectual property to our community, ©ULTURAL.IP seeks to play a role in making the IP system more inclusive and accessible for the next generation of innovators. Stay connected for more IP insights and comment below with any takeaways. Thank you!