In this powerful first part of our conversation, Dr. Miranda Melcher speaks with Professor Dr. Chidi Oguamanam—legal scholar, researcher, and global voice on sustainable bio-innovation, indigenous knowledge systems, and knowledge governance. Professor Oguamanam explores how intellectual property law is fundamentally an access to justice issue, drawing on his lived experience in rural Africa, his legal career, and academic work across law, science, and ethics.

Together, they unpack the conceptual divide between Western and indigenous models of knowledge production, the role of intellectual property in reinforcing inequality, and why recognizing traditional knowledge is essential for a fairer global system. The episode also highlights the significance of the 2024 WIPO Treaty on Intellectual Property, Genetic Resources, and Associated Traditional Knowledge—a landmark step toward greater inclusion and accountability.

🧠 Key Topics Covered:

• The interconnection between rural agriculture, biodiversity, and law
• Knowledge governance as a human rights issue
• The limitations of traditional IP frameworks in recognizing indigenous knowledge
• The symbolic and practical impact of the 2024 WIPO treaty
• Conceptual divides between commercial and communal approaches to knowledge
• Justice and inclusion in global innovation systems

🔗 Resources:

• Learn more about Just Access
• Read about the WIPO Treaty on Genetic Resources and Traditional Knowledge
• Contact us at: podcast@just-access.de

💡 Support Our Work:

If you believe in accessible justice and the power of human rights education, consider supporting Just Access.

👉 Donate here

🎧 Stay tuned for Part 2, where we dive deeper into community benefit sharing, indigenous legal traditions, and global governance reform.

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