Activities and Role of the World Intellectual Property Organization

Origins In 1873 foreign exhibitors refused to attend the International Exhibition of Inventions in Vienna because - they were afraid their ideas would be stolen and - exploited commercially in other countries

Fields of IP: Industrial Property Patents (protect technical features) Trademarks (protect a sign in relation to goods and/or services) Designs (protect the external appearance of a product) GI’s (geographical names identifying a product from that place, the quality of which is attributable to its geographical origin) Trade Secrets

Fields of IP: Copyright and Related Rights Literary works Musical works Artistic works Dramatic works Computer program Performances Sound recordings Broadcasts

The “Mother” Conventions - In1883 : the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property. - In 1886 : the Bern Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works

Milestones : 1883 to Berne Convention Madrid Agreement BIRPI Hague Agreement BIRPI moves to Geneva WIPO Convention WIPO established PCT Madrid Protocol Internet Treaties 1883 Paris Convention 2005 PLT

Milestones 1883Paris Convention 1886Berne Convention 1893 BIRPI 1960Move to Geneva 1967WIPO Convention 1974UN specialized Agency

Objectives Promote the protection of IP throughout the world through cooperation with Member states and other international organizations.

Organization General Assembly Conference Coordination Committee International Bureau

Facts and Figures 184 Member States 920 staff 24 treaties Headquarter: Geneva

Core Tasks Developing int’l IP laws and standard Provide global IP protection services Encouraging use of IP Promote better understanding of IP

Main Activities Norm-Setting Setting international standards through adoption of hard laws (treaties) and soft laws (principles, guidelines, recommendations) Program Activities: IP for Development Legal-Technical assistance to developing countries, LDCs, capacity building of Member States Registration Services facilitating the international protection of intellectual property, making them user-friendly, simpler and cost-effective International classification and standardization activities Cooperation among industrial property offices concerning patents, TM and Ind. des. documentation

Registration Patents Trademarks Industrial designs

International Treaties IP protection Global protection system Classification

International Treaties IP protection : Berne Convention Rome Convention Phonogram Convention WCT, WPPT Paris Convention Patent Law Treaty Trademark Law Treaty WIPO Copyright Treaty

International Treaties Global protection system : PCT (patents) Hague Agreement (designs) Lisbon Agreement(appellation of origin) Madrid Agreement (marks)

International Treaties Classification : Locarno Agreement (designs) Nice Agreement (goods and services) Strasbourg Agreement (patents) Vienna Agreement (figurative elements of marks)

Cooperation for development Legal/technical assistance Modernization of Infrastructure Capacity building

Other programs è IP and economic development è Strategic use of IP è IP and new technology è Creative industries è Collective management è IP and SMEs è IP and LDCs è TK, Folklore and Genetic Resources è WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center

Cooperation with other Organizations UNESCO ILO ITU WHO WTO …... CISAC ALAI INTA ATRIP …...

WIPO’s Income Total: 631 M CHF

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