Mexican Federal Law for the Protection of Cultural Heritage of Indigenous and Afro-Mexican Peoples and Communities.

This article analyzes the Mexican Federal Law for the Protection of Cultural Heritage of Indigenous and Afro-Mexican Peoples and Communities (the Mexican sui generis law), enacted in 2022 to safeguard traditional knowledge (TK), traditional cultural expressions (TCEs), and, to a limited extent, genetic resources (GE). The law aims to recognize and guarantee collective intellectual property rights of indigenous and Afro-Mexican peoples, including mechanisms against unauthorized use and misappropriation, while establishing a collaborative system between federal authorities and communities. The analysis highlights that although the law incorporates many recommended elements from international literature on sui generis protection, it lacks clear definitions of key concepts such as intellectual property, excludes genetic resources from its full scope, and did not involve ad hoc indigenous consultations during its legislative process. The article concludes that while the law represents a significant national effort responding to indigenous demands, its effectiveness will depend on further detailed implementation, institutional capacity, and ongoing engagement with indigenous communities.