New regulations went into effect on Sunday allowing Taiwan’s indigenous peoples to apply for exclusive intellectual property rights over cultural creations. The regulations will protect, among other things, traditional ceremonies, music and dance, visual art, and other forms of cultural expression.
The Protection Act of the Traditional Intellectual Creations of Indigenous Peoples was passed in 2007. The guidelines for implementation went into effect on Sunday.
Officials with the Council of Indigenous Peoples say that the laws were passed to preserve traditional knowledge and culture.
A group dedicated to preserving the Tao culture of Orchid Island has already filed an application to preserve the cultural rights of the tribe. The items listed in the application include the Flying Fish Festival, the launching ceremony of Tao balangays (or “big boats”), and a variety of symbols and patterns featured on the boats, including the fish-eye and human-shaped patterns.
Many tribes have yet to reach a consensus on how and what to apply for. Taiwan currently has 16 officially recognized groups of indigenous people, totaling some 530,000 people.