The USPTO held a public hearing on the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Treaty on Intellectual Property, Genetic Resources and Associated Traditional Knowledge (GRATK Treaty). This hybrid event took place on April 29, 2025, at USPTO headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia.
WIPO member states adopted the GRATK Treaty on May 24, 2024. The USPTO published a Federal Register Notice on January 17, 2025, soliciting input from the public on whether the U.S. should sign and implement the treaty. This hearing provided another opportunity to provide input on those matters.
This program had in-person and virtual attendance options. There was no charge to attend, but registration was required. Due to space limitations, early registration for in-person attendance in Alexandria, Virginia, was recommended.
A video and transcript of the hearing are now available.
Those wishing to testify must submit a separate request no later than April 22, 2025, to Michael Buckler at michael.buckler@uspto.gov.
This program was organized by the USPTO’s Office of Policy and International Affairs (OPIA). More details about the hearing, including required elements for a request to testify, can be found in the Federal Register Notice.
Agenda
Agenda subject to change
Introductory remarks from USPTO (15 minutes)
Michael Buckler, Patent Attorney, OPIA
Public testimony (in the following order, approximately 10 minutes per testifier)
Aman Gebru (virtual), Assistant Professor of Law, University of Houston Law Center
Dr. Fan-Li Chou (virtual),Senior Vice President, Scientific Affairs & Policy, American Seed Trade Association (ASTA)
Debora Plehn-Dujowich (virtual), Chair of the Genetic Resources and Traditional Knowledge Task Force, American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA)
John Todaro (virtual), on behalf of Intellectual Property Owners Association (IPO)
Jamie Simpson (in person), Chief Policy Officer and Counsel, Council for Innovation Promotion (C4IP)
Kelly Anderson (in person), Vice President, International Policy, Global Innovation Policy Center (GIPC), U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Concluding remarks from USPTO (5 minutes)
Michael Buckler, Patent Attorney, OPIA
Additional information
For more information, visit OPIA’s webpage on the treaty or contact Michael Buckler at michael.buckler@uspto.gov. in the USPTO’s Office of Policy and International Affairs.
Accessibility accommodation
If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request a reasonable accommodation, please submit your request to the contact information listed above.