Developing Policies and Protocols for the Culturally Sensitive Intellectual Properties of the Penobscot Nation of Maine (Project Summary)

Introduction Indigenous communities face legal, social, cultural, and economic challenges when attempting to protect or manage their intellectual property (IP). One such challenge is the lack of a communitybased infrastructure that formalizes processes for confronting IP issues. This deficiency is particularly apparent in the field of archaeology, where IP and cultural heritage issues are being contested on a number of domestic and international front. In this IPinCH supported Community Initiative, the Penobscot Indian Nation (Maine, USA), with support from partners at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, developed tribal protocols, tools, and organizational structures to address intellectual property (IP) issues related to archaeology and heritage-based places.