The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is an international organization dedicated to promoting the protection of intellectual property worldwide through cooperation among nations and providing administrative services for international IP treaties. WIPO is a specialized agency of the United Nations and is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. It was established by the WIPO Convention signed in Stockholm on 14th July, 1967, which came into force on 26th April, 1970. India is a founding member of WIPO. As of 2024, WIPO has 193 member states — virtually every country in the world.
The date 26th April is celebrated as World Intellectual Property Day in commemoration of the date on which the WIPO Convention came into force.
Historical Background
WIPO traces its origins to the establishment of the Paris Union (for industrial property) in 1883 and the Berne Union (for literary and artistic works) in 1886. The secretariats of these unions were eventually merged and in 1893 established in Berne, Switzerland as the United International Bureaux for the Protection of Intellectual Property (BIRPI). In 1967, the WIPO Convention established WIPO as a formal international organization, and in 1974 WIPO became a specialized agency of the United Nations.
Objectives of WIPO
The WIPO Convention sets out the following objectives:
1. Promote the Protection of Intellectual Property To promote the protection of intellectual property throughout the world through cooperation among States and, where appropriate, in collaboration with any other international organization.
2. Ensure Administrative Cooperation To ensure administrative cooperation among the intellectual property Unions established by international IP treaties — particularly the Paris Union and the Berne Union.
3. Provide Legal and Technical Assistance To provide legal and technical assistance to developing countries to help them build effective IP systems.
4. Promote the Development of IP Law To promote the development of new international norms and standards relating to IP through the development of new treaties and the revision of existing ones.
Structure of WIPO
1. General Assembly The supreme body of WIPO consisting of all member states that are members of the Paris or Berne Unions. It meets every two years and decides major policy questions.
2. Conference Consists of all member states of WIPO (including those not in the Paris or Berne Unions). Also meets every two years.
3. Coordination Committee An executive body consisting of elected members of the Paris and Berne Unions.
4. Director General The chief executive officer of WIPO responsible for its day-to-day administration. The current Director General is Daren Tang of Singapore (appointed in 2020).
5. International Bureau The secretariat of WIPO headed by the Director General.
Functions of WIPO
1. Administration of International IP Treaties WIPO administers 26 international IP treaties including the Paris Convention, Berne Convention, PCT, Madrid System, and many others.
2. International Registration Services WIPO provides international registration systems for:
- Patents — Through the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)
- Trade Marks — Through the Madrid System
- Industrial Designs — Through the Hague System
- Appellations of Origin — Through the Lisbon System
3. Dispute Resolution WIPO provides dispute resolution services through the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center, including the resolution of domain name disputes under the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP).
4. Development Assistance WIPO provides technical and legal assistance to developing countries to help them build and strengthen their IP systems through:
- Training programs
- Technical cooperation
- Model laws
- IP audits
5. Policy and Norm Setting WIPO provides a forum for the development of new international IP standards through:
- The Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights (SCCR)
- The Standing Committee on the Law of Patents (SCP)
- The Standing Committee on the Law of Trademarks (SCT)
- The Intergovernmental Committee on Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore (IGC)
6. Information and Databases WIPO maintains important IP databases including:
- PATENTSCOPE — International patent database
- Madrid Monitor — International trade mark database
- Hague Express — International design database
- WIPO Lex — Database of national IP laws
Important WIPO Treaties
1. Paris Convention (1883) — Industrial property 2. Berne Convention (1886) — Copyright 3. Patent Cooperation Treaty / PCT (1970) — International patent applications 4. Madrid Agreement and Protocol (1891/1989) — International trade mark registration 5. Hague Agreement (1925) — International design registration 6. Lisbon Agreement (1958) — Appellations of origin 7. Budapest Treaty (1977) — Deposit of microorganisms for patent purposes 8. WIPO Copyright Treaty / WCT (1996) — Copyright in the digital environment 9. WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty / WPPT (1996) — Related rights in the digital environment 10. Marrakesh Treaty (2013) — Access to published works for visually impaired persons 11. Beijing Treaty (2012) — Audiovisual performances
WIPO and India
India is an active member of WIPO and has acceded to most of its major treaties. India's relationship with WIPO includes:
- Member of the Paris Union — Since 1998
- Member of the Berne Union — Since 1928
- Member of the PCT — Since 1998
- Member of the Madrid Protocol — Since 2013
- Member of the Budapest Treaty — Since 2001
India actively participates in WIPO's norm-setting activities, particularly in the IGC which discusses the protection of traditional knowledge, genetic resources, and traditional cultural expressions — areas of great importance to India given its rich biodiversity and traditional knowledge heritage.
WIPO Development Agenda
In 2007, WIPO adopted a Development Agenda consisting of 45 recommendations aimed at ensuring that WIPO's activities take into account the development needs of developing and least-developed countries. India, along with Brazil and other developing countries, was a driving force behind the adoption of the Development Agenda. Key recommendations include:
- Technical assistance tailored to the needs of developing countries
- Norm-setting that takes development into account
- Greater flexibility in IP standards
- Access to knowledge and technology transfer
Conclusion
WIPO is the premier international organization for intellectual property and plays an indispensable role in promoting the global IP system. Through its administration of international treaties, provision of international registration services, dispute resolution mechanisms, development assistance programs, and norm-setting activities, WIPO facilitates the protection of intellectual property across borders and promotes the balanced development of the global IP system. For developing countries like India, WIPO represents both a platform for international IP cooperation and a forum for advocating for a balanced IP system that serves not just the interests of IP rights holders but also the broader goals of development, public health, and access to knowledge. India's active participation in WIPO reflects its recognition of intellectual property as a vital tool for innovation-led development.
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