Problematyka prawnej ochrony dziedzictwa niematerialnego na przykładzie przejawów folkloru

The complexity of forms and structures of traditional heritage makes it difficult to create effective tools of legal protection on different levels: national, regional and international. The emergence of the theoretical concept of safeguarding all aspects of heritage, gave also rise to the question whether such a protection is needed and what kind of legal instruments and measures would be appropriate. At the international level, the foremost initiative is the WIPO Model Provisions for National Laws on the Protection of Expressions of Folklore Against Illicit Exploitation and other Forms of Prejudicial Action and UNESCO Convention on the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, which not only offers the most sophisticated legal definition of intangible cultural heritage and folklore expressions, but also creates a listing mechanism aimed at drawing attention to intangible culture and the need for its safeguarding. Such an analysis would help answer questions whether legal protection is required and would be sufficient; what, if any, are the appropriate analogies in existing law; and whether a sui generis scheme should be developed.