World Intellectual Property Organization

File:United Nations Flags - cropped.jpg

The United Nations Office at Geneva (Switzerland) is the second biggest UN centre, after the United Nations headquarters (New York City).

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO; Template:Langx (OMPI)) is one of the 15 specialized agencies of the United Nations (UN).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref group="notes">In some sources,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> the UN indicates that there are 17 specialized agencies, when counting the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), the International Finance Corporation (IFC), and the International Development Association (IDA), all part of the World Bank Group (WBG), as individual specialized agencies.</ref> Pursuant to the 1967 Convention Establishing the World Intellectual Property Organization, WIPO was created to promote and protect intellectual property (IP) across the world by cooperating with countries as well as international organizations.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It began operations on 26 April 1970 when the convention entered into force. The current Director General is Singaporean Daren Tang, former head of the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore, who began his term on 1 October 2020.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

WIPO's activities include: hosting forums to discuss and shape international IP rules and policies, providing global services that register and protect IP in different countries, resolving transboundary IP disputes, helping connect IP systems through uniform standards and infrastructure, and serving as a general reference database on all IP matters; this includes providing reports and statistics on the state of IP protection or innovation both globally and in specific countries.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> WIPO also works with governments, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and individuals to utilize IP for socioeconomic development.

WIPO administers 26 international treaties that concern a wide variety of intellectual property issues, ranging from the protection of audiovisual works to establishing international patent classification.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It is governed by the General Assembly and the Coordination Committee, which together set policy and serve as the main decision making bodies. The General Assembly also elects WIPO's chief administrator, the Director General, currently Daren Tang of Singapore, who took office on 1 October 2020.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> WIPO is administered by a Secretariat that helps carry out its day-to-day activities.

Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, WIPO has "external offices" around the world, including in Algiers (Algeria); Rio de Janeiro (Brazil); Beijing (China), Tokyo (Japan); Abuja (Nigeria); Moscow (Russia); and Singapore (Singapore).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Unlike most UN organizations, WIPO does not rely heavily on assessed or voluntary contributions from member states; 95 percent of its budget comes from fees related to its global services.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

WIPO currently has 193 member states,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> including 190 UN member states and the Cook Islands, Holy See and Niue; Palestine has permanent observer status.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The only non-members, among the countries recognized by the UN are the Federated States of Micronesia, Palau and South Sudan.Template:Citation needed

History

Pre BIRPI

1883 – Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property

Template:Main The Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property was adopted in 1883 and was one of the first intellectual property treaties. It established a Union for the protection of industrial property. Additionally, it applies to a wide range of industrial property including patents, trademarks, utility models, industrial designs, trade names, service marks, geographical indications as well as the "repression of unfair competition". The Paris Convention was the first international agreement to protect the works of creators in other countries.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Moving on, the Convention was adopted in diplomatic conferences held in Paris in 1880 and 1883, it was then signed on 20 March 1883, on behalf of Brazil, France, Guatemala, Netherlands, Portugal, Serbia, Spain and Switzerland, Belgium, Italy and El Salvador. It consisted of the Convention proper, which contains 19 articles, and the Protocole de clôture (Final Protocol), which is almost the same length as the Convention proper.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

The "International Bureau" established by the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property later became part of BIRPI and later WIPO.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

1886 – Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works

Template:Main The Berne Convention was adopted in 1886, it deals with copyright, the protection of works and rights of authors and rights holders. It provides creators including writers, poets, painters, musicians with ways to control how and by who their works are used and the terms of use. It also contains provisions on minimum protections and special provisions for developing countries.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Convention follows three basic principles; that works originating in one of the Contracting States must be given the same protection in each of the other Contracting States (principle of "national treatment"), that there is automatic protection and no formal process is required and that protection under the convention is independent of protection in the country of origin of the work (principle of "independence" of protection).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The "International Bureau" was created to oversee the Berne Convention and later became part of BIRPI and later WIPO.Template:Citation needed

1891 – Madrid Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Marks

Template:Main In 1891 nine of the 14 States to the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property created the first "special arrangements for the protection of industrial property". Along with the Protocol Relating to the Madrid Agreement (1989) it created the Madrid System, the primary international system for facilitating the registration of trademarks in multiple jurisdictions around the world.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

BIRPI

Template:Main The Bureaus created to administer the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works and the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property were under "the high supervision" (haute surveillance) of the Government of the Swiss Confederation. In 1893 the Swiss government combined them with the same director and same staff as United International Bureaux for the Protection of Intellectual Property, Bureaux internationaux réunis pour la protection de la propriété intellectuelle (BIRPI).<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> BIRPI was the predecessor of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) which superseded it 87 years later, in 1970.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

Formation of WIPO

WIPO was formally created by the Convention Establishing the World Intellectual Property Organization, which entered into force on 26 April 1970.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> WIPO allowed members who were part of the Berne Convention, Paris Convention or a member of the United Nations system including the United Nations, any of its specialized agencies, the International Atomic Energy Agency or the International Court of Justice.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

That date is commemorated annually as World Intellectual Property Day, which raises awareness of the importance of IP. Under Article 3 of this convention, WIPO seeks to "promote the protection of intellectual property throughout the world". WIPO became a specialized agency of the UN in 1974. The Agreement between the United Nations and the World Intellectual Property Organization<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> notes in Article 1 that WIPO is responsible: Template:Blockquote

The Agreement marked a transition for WIPO from the mandate it inherited in 1967 from BIRPI, to promote the protection of intellectual property, to one that involved the more complex task of promoting technology transfer and economic development.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>Template:Request quotation

WIPO joining the United Nations

File:WIPO Main Building (Arpad Bogsch Building).jpg

WIPO headquarters, Geneva

In 1974 WIPO became a specialized agency of the United Nations through a bilateral agreement between WIPO and the UN approved by the General Assembly of WIPO on 27 September 1974, and by the UN General Assembly on 17 December 1974. A protocol was signed by then Secretary-General of the United Nations, Kurt Waldheim and then Director General of WIPO Árpád Bogsch on 21 January 1975. The Agreement became effective on 17 December 1974.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

The relative importance of WIPO in global IP governance decreased after the United States incorporated intellectual property matters into the Uruguay Round of the GATT Negotiations in the 1980s.<ref name=":4">Template:Cite book</ref>Template:Rp

WIPO Development agenda

In October 2004, WIPO agreed to adopt a proposal offered by Argentina and Brazil, the "Proposal for the Establishment of a Development Agenda for WIPO"—from the Geneva Declaration on the Future of the World Intellectual Property Organization.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> This proposal was well supported by developing countries. The agreed "WIPO Development Agenda"<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> (composed of over 45 recommendations) was the culmination of a long process of transformation for the organization from one that had historically been primarily aimed at protecting the interests of rightholders, to one that has increasingly incorporated the interests of other stakeholders in the international intellectual property system as well as integrating into the broader corpus of international law on human rights, environment and economic cooperation.

A number of civil society bodies have been working on a draft Access to Knowledge (A2K)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> treaty which they would like to see introduced.

In 2009, WIPO started drafting future treaties on intellectual property and genetic resources, traditional knowledge and folklore in relation with indigenous peoples and local communities.Template:Cn

In December 2011, WIPO published its first World Intellectual Property Report on the Changing Face of Innovation, the first such report of the new Office of the Chief Economist.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> WIPO is also a co-publisher of the Global Innovation Index.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Recent events

File:World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) members world map.svg

WIPO members Template:Legend Template:Legend

In 2016, WIPO initiated the High-Level Conference on Intellectual Property for BRI Countries.<ref name=":4" />Template:Rp WIPO Director General Francis Gurry encouraged countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative to use WIPO tools like its global IP services and databases and to join WIPO-administered IP treaties.<ref name=":4" />Template:Rp

In September 2020 China blocked the Wikimedia Foundation from observer status at WIPO citing the existence of a Wikimedia affiliate in Taiwan. According to the Chinese statement "there is reason to believe that this foundation has been carrying out political activities through its member organizations which could undermine the state's sovereignty and territorial integrity."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> China again rejected Wikimedia's bid, for the same reason, in 2021, 2023, and 2024.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

WIPO, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the WTO launched on 11 April 2022 their new Trilateral COVID-19 Technical Assistance Platform. This new tool aims to help members and WTO accession candidates address their capacity building needs to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Platform provides members and accession candidates with a single contact form which they can use to reach out to the trilateral organizations.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Global services

Patent Cooperation Treaty

The Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) (1970) established a service which assists individuals, companies, and institutions in seeking patent protection internationally for their inventions.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> It also helps patent offices with their patent granting decisions and facilitates public access to technical information relating to those inventions. 153 countries are currently party to the PCT.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Under the PCT, an applicant can file one PCT application in one language, at one patent office, within 12 months from the date of the earliest patent application which has been filed for the same invention (the "priority date"). This one PCT application has the same legal effect as filing separate regional or national patent applications in all PCT member countries.Template:Cn

PCT applications are processed in a standardized manner as provided in the Treaty and Regulations, including an international search for documents relevant to the potential patentability of the invention and international publication.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Granting patents remains under the control of the regional or national patent Offices in the "national phase".

Using the PCT, patent applicants can postpone paying national and regional patent-related fees while they learn about the likelihood of obtaining a patent, benefitting from the additional time and information to help them decide whether, and in which countries, to pursue patents.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Madrid System

Template:Main The Madrid System for the International Registration of Marks serves as a means to seek protection for trademarks worldwide, in over 120 countries.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Created in 1891, the Madrid System is now governed by the Madrid Protocol Relating to the Madrid Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Marks (1989). In order to become a member of the Madrid System, a state or intergovernmental organization must already be a party to the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property (1883).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The Madrid System is a centralized trademark registration system: through a single application, in one language and with one set of fees (in one currency, the Swiss franc), protection can be obtained in member states and intergovernmental organizations.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> International registrations can then be modified, renewed or expanded, centrally through WIPO (rather than through each separate IP Office).<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

The Madrid System can only be used by a natural person or a legal entity, which is a national, is domiciled or has a company in the territory of a member of the Madrid System.Template:Cn

Lisbon System

Template:Main The Lisbon System for the International Registration of Appellations of Origin and Geographical indications provides a means of obtaining international protection for a geographical indication or an appellation of origin.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Geographical indications and appellations of origin are intellectual property rights which identify a product that originates from a specific geographical area and that has characteristics that are attributable to its geographical origin.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Comté cheese (France), Chulucanas pottery (Peru), Tequila (Mexico), Porto (Portugal), Herend porcelain (Hungary), and Kampot pepper (Cambodia) are examples of appellations of origin and geographical indications registered under the Lisbon System.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Through a single registration and one set of fees, protection can be obtained in the other countries (and intergovernmental organizations, such as the European Union) covered by the Lisbon System.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The Lisbon System includes the Lisbon Agreement for the Protection of Appellations of Origin and their International Registration of 1958 ('the Lisbon Agreement') and, its latest revision, the Geneva Act of the Lisbon Agreement on Appellations of Origin and Geographical Indications of 2015 ('the Geneva Act') form the Lisbon System.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Registrations under the Lisbon System are published in the official bulletin and can be searched through the Lisbon Express Database.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web Creative Commons attribution license Text was copied from this source, which is available under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 IGO (CC BY 3.0 IGO) license.</ref>

WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center

The WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center was established in 1994 as an international resource for alternatives to court litigation of intellectual property and technology disputes. It offers alternative dispute resolution (ADR) options including mediation, arbitration, and expert determination to resolve international commercial disputes between private parties. It is an administrator of cases and a provider of legal and policy expertise. The Center also provides domain name dispute resolution services under the WIPO-designed UDRP.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It is based in Geneva, Switzerland and since 2010 the Center has had an office at Maxwell Chambers in Singapore.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Hague System

The WIPO Hague System for the International Registration of Industrial Designs provides an international mechanism for securing protection of up to 100 designs<ref name="WIPO-Hague">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> in multiple countries or regions, through a single international application, filed in one language and using one currency (Swiss francs).<ref name="WIPO-Hague" />

International design applications are filed directly through WIPO, according to the requirements and procedures established by the Hague Agreement.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The domestic legal framework of each designated contracting party governs the design protection provided by the resulting international registrations.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

According to the rules laid out by the Hague Agreement, anyone who is a national of, or who has a domicile, habitual residence or real and effective industrial or commercial establishment in any Hague System contracting party<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> – including any country of the European Union or the African Intellectual Property Organization – can use the Hague System. The Hague System does not require the applicant to file a national or regional design application.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On 5 February 2020, China officially deposited its accession documents for entering the Hague System for the International Registration of Industrial Designs and the Marrakesh Treaty (which increases the accessibility of publications to people with visual impairment), before the commencement of the Beijing Olympic Winter Games. The accession will take effect on 5 May 2022.Template:Cn

China became the 68th contracting party to the Geneva Act (1999) of the Hague Agreement and, therefore, the 77th member of the Hague System.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Funding

WIPO, unlike other UN agencies, derives most of its income from fees for the Global IP services it provides as opposed to Member States contributions.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2020, WIPO's revenue amounted to CHF 468.3 million.<ref name="WIPO-financial-2021" /> In 2020 WIPO generated over 94.3% of its revenue from fees that are paid by users of its intellectual property services for patents, trademarks and industrial designs due to international demand for intellectual property titles. These services are provided through the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) (providing 76.6% of revenue), Madrid System (providing 16.3% of revenue) and Hague System (providing 1.4% of revenue).<ref name="WIPO-financial-2021">Template:Cite web</ref>

Governance and normative work

WIPO Assemblies

WIPO Assemblies develop global intellectual property agreements through bringing stakeholders together. The main policy and decision making bodies of WIPO are the Coordination Committee and the General Assembly.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Twenty-two Assemblies, the Unions administered by WIPO, and other bodies of the Member States of WIPO meet in ordinary or extraordinary sessions in autumn. The General Assembly appoints the Director General through nomination by the Coordination Committee. Any of the policy and decision making bodies can constitute Permanent Committees or Standing Committees.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Standing Committees

Standing committees are ad hoc groups of experts established for a given purpose and acting as a place for policy discussions and negotiations on the future development of intellectual property. Any WIPO Standing Committee or other bodies also decide to establish a working group to examine a question in more detail, make suggestions or give advice on any subject within the competence of the Organization.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

WIPO administered treaties

WIPO administers 26 treaties,<ref name="WIPO-treaties">Template:Cite web File:CC-BY icon.svg Text was copied from this source, which is available under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 IGO (CC BY 3.0 IGO) license.</ref> including the WIPO Convention.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Intellectual property protection treaties

Intellectual property protection treaties define internationally agreed basic standards of intellectual property (IP) protection in each country.<ref name="WIPO-treaties" />

Name	Description	History<ref name="WIPO-prep">Template:Cite web</ref>
Beijing Treaty on Audiovisual Performances	Template:Excerpt	Adopted on 26 June 2012. Entered into force on 28 April 2020<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Berne Convention	Template:Excerpt	Adopted in 1886. Last amended on 28 September 1979<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Brussels Convention Relating to the Distribution of Programme-Carrying Signals Transmitted by Satellite	The Brussels or Satellites Convention provides for the obligation of each Contracting State to take adequate measures to prevent the unauthorized distribution on or from its territory of any programme-carrying signal transmitted by satellite.	Adopted in 1974<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Madrid Agreement for the Repression of False or Deceptive Indications of Source on Goods	According to the Madrid Agreement, all goods bearing a false or deceptive indication of source, by which one of the Contracting States, or a place situated therein, is directly or indirectly indicated as being the country or place of origin, must be seized on importation, or such importation must be prohibited, or other actions and sanctions must be applied in connection with such importation. This Agreement provides for the cases and the manner in which seizure may be requested and effected. It prohibits the use, in connection with the sale, display or offering for sale of any goods, of all indications in the nature of publicity capable of deceiving the public as to the source of the goods. It is reserved to the courts of each Contracting State to decide which appellations (other than regional appellations concerning the source of products of the vine) do not, on account of their generic character, come within the scope of the Agreement. The Agreement does not provide for the establishment of a Union, governing body or budget.	Adopted on 14 April 1891, revised at Washington on 2 June 1911, at The Hague on 6 November 1925, at London on 2 June 1934, and at Lisbon on 31 October 1958, supplemented by the Additional Act of Stockholm of 14 July 1967<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Marrakesh VIP Treaty	Template:Excerpt	Adopted on 27 June 2013<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Nairobi Treaty on the Protection of the Olympic Symbol	The Nairobi Treaty intend to protect the Olympic symbol – five interlaced rings – against use for commercial purposes without the authorization of the International Olympic Committee.	Adopted at Nairobi on 26 September 1981<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property	Template:Excerpt	Adopted on 20 March 1883, revised at Brussels on 14 December 1900, at Washington on 2 June 1911, at The Hague on 6 November 1925, at London on 2 June 1934, at Lisbon on 31 October 1958, and at Stockholm on 14 July 1967, and amended on 28 September 1979<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Patent Law Treaty	Template:Excerpt	Adopted at Geneva on 1 June 2000<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Geneva Phonograms Convention	Template:Excerpt	Adopted in Geneva in October 1971<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Riyadh Design Law Treaty	The Riyadh Design Law Treaty (RDLT) was adopted on November 22, 2024, and will enter into force three months after there have been 15 ratifications or accessions. The objective of the Treaty is to streamline the procedures for design protection. By making the procedures less complex and more predictable, the RDLT helps designers to protect their work both in home markets and abroad.	Adopted on November 22, 2024<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Rome Convention for the Protection of Performers, Producers of Phonograms and Broadcasting Organizations	Template:Excerpt	Adopted in 1961<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Singapore Treaty on the Law of Trademarks	The objective of the Singapore Treaty is to create an international framework for the harmonization of administrative trademark registration procedures. It builds on the Trademark Law Treaty of 1994 (TLT), but has a wider scope of application and addresses more recent developments in the field of communication technologies.	Adopted at Singapore on 27 March 2006<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Trademark Law Treaty	The aim of the Trademark Law Treaty (TLT) is to standardize and streamline national and regional trademark registration procedures. This is achieved through the simplification and harmonization of certain features of those procedures, thus making trademark applications and the administration of trademark registrations in multiple jurisdictions less complex and more predictable.	Adopted at Geneva on 27 October 1994<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Washington Treaty on Intellectual Property in Respect of Integrated Circuits	The Washington Treaty was adopted in 1989. It is meant to provide protection for the layout designs (topographies) of integrated circuits. As of 2023, the Treaty has not yet entered into force, but has been ratified or acceded to by 10 countries.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> See also Integrated circuit layout design protection.	Adopted at Washington on 26 May 1989 (not yet entered into force).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
WIPO Copyright Treaty	Template:Excerpt	Adopted in 1996<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
WIPO GRATK Treaty	The WIPO Treaty on Intellectual Property, Genetic Resources and Associated Traditional Knowledge (or GRATK) was adopted on May 24, 2024. The Treaty is an international legal instrument to combat biopiracy. It establishes a mandatory patent disclosure requirement – this requires patent applicants to disclose the country of origin of the genetic resources and/or the Indigenous Peoples or local community providing the associated traditional knowledge, if the claimed inventions are based on genetic resources and/or associated traditional knowledge.	Adopted in 2024<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty	Template:Excerpt	Adopted in 1996<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Global protection system treaties

Global protection system treaties govern WIPO's services, ensuring that one international registration or filing will have effect in any of the relevant signatory States.<ref name="WIPO-treaties" />

Name	Description	History<ref name="WIPO-prep" />
Budapest Treaty on the International Recognition of the Deposit of Microorganisms for the Purposes of Patent Procedure	Template:Excerpt	Done at Budapest on 28 April 1977, and amended on 26 September 1980<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Hague Agreement Concerning the International Deposit of Industrial Designs	Template:Excerpt	Of 6 November 1925, revised at London on 2 June 1934, at The Hague on 28 November 1960, supplemented by the Additional Act of Monaco of 18 November 1961, the Complementary Act of Stockholm of 14 July 1967 amended on 28 September 1979, and the Protocol of Geneva on 29 August 1975, and at Geneva on 2 July 1999<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Lisbon Agreement for the Protection of Appellations of Origin and their International Registration	Template:Excerpt	Of 31 October 1958, revised at Stockholm on 14 July 1967, amended on 28 September 1979, and the Geneva Act adopted by the Diplomatic Conference on 20 May 2015<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Madrid Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Marks	The Madrid System for the International Registration of Marks is governed by the Madrid Agreement, concluded in 1891, and the Protocol relating to that Agreement, concluded in 1989. The system makes it possible to protect a mark in a large number of countries by obtaining an international registration that has effect in each of the designated Contracting Parties.	Of 14 April 1891, revised at Brussels on 14 December 1900, at Washington on 2 June 1911, at The Hague on 6 November 1925, at London on 2 June 1934, at Nice on 15 June 1957, and at Stockholm on 14 July 1967, and amended on 28 September 1979<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Protocol Relating to the Madrid Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Marks	The Madrid System for the International Registration of Marks is governed by the Madrid Agreement, concluded in 1891, and the Protocol relating to that Agreement, concluded in 1989. The system makes it possible to protect a mark in a large number of countries by obtaining an international registration that has effect in each of the designated Contracting Parties.	Adopted at Madrid on 27 June 1989, amended on 3 October 2006 and on 12 November 2007<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Patent Cooperation Treaty	Template:Excerpt	Done at Washington on 19 June 1970, amended on 28 September 1979, modified on 3 February 1984, and on 3 October 2001<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Classification treaties

Classification treaties that create classification systems that organize information concerning inventions, trademarks and industrial designs.<ref name="WIPO-treaties" />

Name	Description	History<ref name="WIPO-prep" />
Locarno Agreement Establishing an International Classification for Industrial Designs	The Locarno Agreement establishes a classification for industrial designs (the Locarno Classification)	Signed at Locarno on 8 October 1968, and amended on 28 September 1979<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Nice Agreement Concerning the International Classification of Goods and Services for the Purposes of the Registration of Marks	Template:Excerpt	Of 15 June 1957, revised at Stockholm on 14 July 1967, and at Geneva on 13 May 1977, and amended on 28 September 1979<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Strasbourg Agreement Concerning the International Patent Classification	Template:Excerpt	Of 24 March 1971, and amended on 28 September 1979<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Vienna Agreement Establishing an International Classification of the Figurative Elements of Marks	The Vienna Agreement establishes a classification (the Vienna Classification) for marks that consist of, or contain, figurative elements.	Done at Vienna on 12 June 1973, and amended on 1 October 1985<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Policy work

Genetic resources, traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions

For years, many local communities, Indigenous peoples and governments have sought effective intellectual property (IP) protection for traditional cultural expressions (folklore) and traditional knowledge as tradition-based forms of ingenuity and creativity.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> As a living body of knowledge developed, sustained and passed on from generation to generation within a community, it is not easily protected under the current IP system, which typically grants protection for a limited period to new inventions and original works as private rights.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Some genetic resources, too, are linked to traditional knowledge and related practices through their use and conservation by Indigenous peoples and local communities. Although genetic resources, as encountered in nature, are not eligible for IP protection, inventions based on or developed with the use of genetic resources may be patentable.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Since 2010, the Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore (IGC) has been negotiating the text of one or several legal instruments on the matter.

Global health

WIPO Re:Search is a public-private partnership between WIPO and the non-profit BIO Ventures for Global Health focused on early-stage medical research and development against neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), malaria and tuberculosis.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> It has 150 members, including eight of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> WIPO Re:Search supports collaborations between scientific institutions and pharmaceutical companies all over the world with the goal to advance research for medicines, treatment methods and diagnostic techniques against the neglected tropical diseases that affect over 1 billion people worldwide.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Through these collaborations as well as its fellowship program, WIPO Re:Search provides shared compound libraries, repurposing methods, capacity building and works on the growth of international scientific networks.Template:Cn

Green technologies

Template:Main WIPO GREEN is a free to access online marketplace for sustainable technology.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It consists of three main elements: WIPO GREEN online database of green technologies and needs, WIPO GREEN Acceleration Projects, and WIPO GREEN partners network.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It has a network of 146 partners and aims to bring together organizations in green technology help the implementation and diffusion of green technologies around the world.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> The WIPO GREEN database is an online platform where green technology inventors can promote their products and businesses, organizations, governments who are looking for green technologies can explain their needs and seek collaboration with providers.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> WIPO GREEN 'acceleration projects' are organized annually in different countries or regions of the world, in collaboration with local organizations.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> These projects usually address a particular field and connect providers and seekers of green technologies.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

WIPO Judicial Institute

Template:Main The WIPO Judicial Institute was established in 2019 to coordinate and lead WIPO's work with national and regional judiciaries. This work includes convening international meetings between judges, implementing judicial capacity building activities, producing resources and publications for use by judges, and administering the WIPO Lex database that provides free public access to intellectual property (IP) laws, treaties and judicial decisions from around the world. WIPO has also established an advisory board of Judges, currently comprising 12 members who serve in their personal capacity.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

WIPO Academy

Template:Main The WIPO Academy is the training arm of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), it was established in 1998.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It offers intellectual property (IP) education, training and IP skills-building to government officials, inventors, creators, business professionals, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), academics, students and individuals interested in IP.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Academy hosts IP courses through its four programs: the Professional Development Program, University Partnerships, Distance Learning and WIPO Summer Schools.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights

The Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights (SCCR) was created in the 1998 to examine issues in the field of copyright and related rights on substantive law and harmonization. The Committee includes all member states of WIPO, some member states of the United Nations who are not members of WIPO, and a number of non-governmental and intergovernmental observers. The Committee meets twice per year and formulates recommendations for consideration by the WIPO General Assembly. The main topics currently under discussion are the protection of broadcasting organizations and limitations and exceptions. Copyright in the digital environment, the resale royalty right, public lending right and the rights of theater directors are also being discussed within the Committee.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

World Intellectual Property Day

Template:Main World Intellectual Property Day is an annual global public awareness campaign to "highlight the role and contribution of intellectual property in the economic, cultural and social development of all countries as well as to raise public awareness and understanding in this field of human endeavor." In 2000, WIPO's Member States formally designated 26 April – the day on which the WIPO Convention came into force in 1970 – as World Intellectual Property Day. The first World Intellectual Property Day was held in 2001.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Sectors and divisions

Economics and Statistics Division

WIPO's Economics and Statistics Division gathers data on intellectual property activity worldwide and publishes statistics to the public. The Division also conducts economic analysis on how government IP and innovation policies affect economic performance.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Infrastructure and Platforms Sector

The Infrastructure and Platforms sector develops, implements and maintains the various databases,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>Template:Failed verification tools<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and platforms<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> of the Organization that are targeted at and used by intellectual property offices, legal professionals, researchers, and other specialized users. The sector also covers the use of 'frontier technologies' such as artificial intelligence and coordinates WIPO's overall customer goals, strategies and tools.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Diplomatic Engagement and Assemblies Affairs Division

The Diplomatic Engagement and Assemblies Affairs Division is directly under the supervision of the Director General, it focuses on engagement with the diplomatic community in Geneva through events, meetings and overseeing the administrative, logistical and other aspects of key meetings including the Assemblies of WIPO. The Division is also responsible for supervising the full range of protocol services across the Organization. Specifically, the Division is responsible for meeting all the Director General's representation and hospitality protocol-related needs and protocol-related needs for meetings and events.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Traditional Knowledge Division

The Traditional Knowledge Division carries out WIPO's work on genetic resources, traditional cultural expressions and traditional knowledge through its seven service areas.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> These include supporting indigenous and local community entrepreneurship in making strategic and effective use of intellectual property tools in their businesses; providing intellectual property advice on the documentation of traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions; organizing hands-on training, mentoring and distance learning programs; and acting as a global reference of information resources on the intersection of IP and genetic resources, traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions, as well as maintaining a repository of regional, national and community experiences. The Traditional Knowledge Division is also responsible for facilitating multilateral negotiations in the WIPO Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

Publications and databases

WIPO publishes around 40 new titles a year, which are translated and published in the official languages of the United Nations: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.<ref name="WIPO-publications">Template:Cite web</ref> The WIPO Knowledge Repository holds the archive of WIPO publications and documentations since 1885, as well as a library of academic research literature on intellectual property.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> WIPO adopted an Open Access Policy in 2016.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Its publications are free to reuse and modify, under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license.<ref name="WIPO-publications" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Flagship publications	Databases
Global Innovation Index<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	WIPOLex<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
World Intellectual Property Report<ref name="WIPO-innovation">Template:Cite web</ref>	PATENTSCOPE<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
World Intellectual Property Indicators<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	Global Brand Database<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
WIPO Magazine<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	WIPO GREEN<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Green Technology Book<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	Global Design Database<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
PCT Yearly Review<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	Madrid Monitor<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Madrid Yearly Review<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	IP Statistics Data Center<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Hague Yearly Review<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	Article 6ter<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
WIPO Technology Trends<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	Hague Express<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
WIPO IP Facts and Figures<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	Lisbon Express<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
	WIPO Pearl<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
	Access to Research for Development and Innovation (ARDI)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
	Access to Specialized Patent Information (ASPI)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
	Pat-Informed<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Global Innovation Index

The Global Innovation Index is an annual ranking of countries by their capacity for, and success in, innovation, published by the World Intellectual Property Organization. It was started in 2007 by INSEAD and World Business,<ref name="Aubert-2010">Template:Cite book</ref> a British magazine. Until 2021 it was published by WIPO, in partnership with Cornell University, INSEAD, and other organisations and institutions,.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It is based on both subjective and objective data derived from several sources, including the International Telecommunication Union, the World Bank and the World Economic Forum.<ref name="Aubert-2010" />

World Intellectual Property Report

Template:Main The World Intellectual Property Report is a biennial analytical publication by WIPO, first published in 2011. Each report examines a different theme, focusing on trends in a particular area of intellectual property and innovation. The report uses macroeconomic analysis and includes case studies to examine the role of intellectual property and other intangibles in the global economy.<ref name="WIPO-innovation" />

World Intellectual Property Indicators

Template:Main Since 2009, WIPO has published the annual World Intellectual Property Indicators, providing a wide range of indicators covering the areas of intellectual property.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> It draws on data from national and regional IP offices, WIPO, the World Bank, and UNESCO.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

WIPO Lex

Template:Main WIPO Lex is an online global database launched in 2010,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> which provides free public access to intellectual property laws, treaties and judicial decisions from around the world. In 2022, the WIPO Lex database contained 48,000 national, regional and international legal documents relating to intellectual property, with access in the six UN languages.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

WIPO Magazine

WIPO Magazine,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> the organization's flagship outreach publication, is available in eight languages (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish). Established in 1999, and online since 2005,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> WIPO Magazine explores the worlds of innovation and creativity, and the role of IP in advancing human progress. The WIPO Magazine features a range of articles on how people around the world are using IP rights to advance their goals and support national economic development. It also includes expert commentary on the latest "hot topics" relating to IP policy and practice. The WIPO Magazine is free of charge. In January 2023, it moved to a digital-only format.

PATENTSCOPE

Template:Main PATENTSCOPE is a public patent database provided by WIPO that serves as an official publication source for patent applications filed under the Patent Cooperation Treaty and covers numerous national and regional patent collections. In 2021 it held over 100 million patent documents including 4.2 million published international patent applications.

The Green Technology Book

In November 2022 at UNFCCC COP27, WIPO introduced its new Flagship publication the Green Technology Book.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> This digital-first publication aims to put innovation, technology and intellectual property at the forefront in the fight against climate change. The inaugural edition of this annual publication focused on available solutions for climate-change adaptation to reduce vulnerability as well as to increase resilience to the impacts of climate change. The book was created in cooperation with the Climate Technology Center and Network (CTCN) and the Egyptian Academy of Scientific Research and Technology (ASTR). It features 200 adaptation technologies, which are also available in the WIPO GREEN database of innovative technologies and needs.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

WIPO Pearl

The WIPO Pearl database was created in 2014. It gives access to scientific and technical terms derived from patent documents. It aims to promote accurate and consistent use of terms across different languages, and to make it easier to search and share scientific and technical knowledge. It operates in ten languages.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Directors General

File:Daren Tang, Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).jpg

Current WIPO Director General Daren Tang (2020)

WIPO Directors General<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

No.	Term	Name	From
1	1970–1973	Georg Bodenhausen	Template:Flagcountry
2	1973–1997	Árpád Bogsch	Template:Flagcountry
3	1997–2008	Kamil Eltayeb Idris	Template:Flagcountry
4	2008–2020	Francis Gurry	Template:Flagcountry
5	2020–2026	Daren Tang	Template:Flagcountry
6	2026–	Pending 2025 Assembly results<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On 1 October 2020, Daren Tang of Singapore succeeded Gurry as Director General.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> His candidacy was backed by the United States and 54 other countries over China's preferred candidate, Wang Binying,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> who received 28 votes out of the 83 voting members.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

See also

• Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement
• Intellectual property organization
• List of parties to international copyright agreements
• Uniform Domain-Name Dispute-Resolution Policy
• World Intellectual Property Organization treaties

Further reading

• Research Handbook on the World Intellectual Property Organization: The First 50 Years and Beyond

External links

• Template:Official website