Bill > HCR108

This Concurrent Resolution urges the creation of a Native Hawaiian Intellectual Property Working Group to address policies and laws concerning Native Hawaiian intellectual property, which encompasses traditional knowledge, cultural expressions, and art forms passed down through generations, such as language (ka ?olelo Hawai?i), hula, music (mele), stories (mo?olelo), and crafts. The resolution highlights that existing Western intellectual property laws, like patents and copyrights, were not designed to protect indigenous knowledge and can inadvertently lead to its misuse or theft, citing an example of a food chain attempting to claim ownership of the terms "Aloha" and "Poke." The proposed working group will consist of nine members with expertise in Native Hawaiian law, indigenous intellectual property, or cultural practices, appointed by the Governor, Speaker of the House, and Senate President based on nominations from various Native Hawaiian organizations. This group is tasked with developing solutions to prevent the appropriation of Native Hawaiian intellectual property, meeting monthly, and submitting its recommendations, including potential legislation, to the Legislature by early 2025.