I admit to having mixed feelings about traditional knowledge (TK) lables. These are lables that denote traditional ownership and limitations on the use of indigenous cultural heritage and artifacts. You can view the lables here. I certainly understand the sentiment behind these lables. As the video accompanying the article makes clear, the colonial past has resulted in the appropriation and debasement of traditional knowledge from around the world, transforming it into Disney princesses or hot yoga. At the same time, I am not comfortable with limitations to the concept of public domain and limitations on access and use based on gender. And while in some cases the stewardship of traditional knowledge is known and obvious, in many other cases, it is not clear who speaks for a given tradition and why we should listen to just any voice telling us what we can and cannot do. I enter into any such discussion with an attitude of respect, of course, but respect does not entail obedience.
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