Australian government IP department has developed a toolkit named Nanga Mai Arung (translated into “Dream Shield”) that gathers case-study materials to guide Indigenous people towards efficient IP management. Traditional knowledge can indeed be a rich source of inspiration for businesses, which often don’t properly realize the broader legal and cultural picture surrounding their creations. Dream Shield initiative started in 2009 with IP Australia establishing an Indigenous Expert Panel to analyse the way Indigenous business owners perceive Australian IP system. The outcomes led IP Australia to focus its efforts on adapting IP-related communication to specifically target and engage Indigenous business community. By learning how IP system works, Indigenous business can take informed decisions, be prepared in case of infringement and they can actually gain commercial advantages by being more appealing to potential investor’s eyes. To better broadcast the relevance of IP protection to indigenous community in today’s business, IP Australia has entered different partnerships: It worked together with Indigenous Business Australia (IBA), a local association that has implemented its workshop for aspiring businessmen with Dream Shield contents; and it joined its forces with the Australian Attorney General’s Department to develop copyright-related materials and improve aspects initially not covered in the toolkit. Since Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are under-represented, IP Australia has recently published a new case-study concerning the Warlukurlangu artists from Yuendumu, an isolated town in the Northern Territory. The story of these Aboriginal artists shows how a strategic IP management can incentivize new form of business and generate enough income to make a living in remote communities. Thanks to the help of the local Art Centre manager, Warlukurlangu artists are wisely and efficiently using their IPRs to enter into license agreements and authorize the reproduction of their artwork on several goods, from textiles up to iPhone covers that report credit on the labels to the author. In conclusion, Dream Shield and all the initiatives that are deriving from it are allowing to demonstrate effectively the high value of IP also as a way to promote traditional knowledge and sustainable development. The gLAWcal Team LIBEAC project Thursday, 6 November 2014 (Source: WIPO magazine)