Last updated 12 February 2026
In May 2024, the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) member states adopted the first WIPO Treaty to address the interface between intellectual property, genetic resources and traditional knowledge. This is the first WIPO Treaty to include provisions specifically for Indigenous people as well as local communities. Australia has signed up to the treaty and is undertaking the domestic implementation processes. The federal government and IP Australia have been consulting with a wide range of stakeholders on the development of laws for the protection of traditional knowledge and cultural expressions.
The Australian Government has committed to working with First Nations peoples to introduce stand-alone legislation to protect First Nations traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions including to address the harm caused by fake art, merchandise and souvenirs. This commitment is outlined in the National Cultural Policy—Revive: a place for every story, a story for every place.
The rapid rise of artificial intelligence has exposed a number of tensions with existing regulations, particularly copyright. The Australian Federal Government has released a Copyright and AI Transparency discussion paper, a major policy document that sets out some options for reform and invited public feedback. There is no final position on copyright reform at the time of writing.