Backgrounder: World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)

• Background
• WIPO’s Objectives
• Organization
• Canada’s Role in WIPO
• For further information

Background

• WIPO was established by a Convention signed at Stockholm in 1967 which entered into force in 1970.
• WIPO is an intergovernmental organization with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland and is one of 16 specialized agencies of the United Nations system of organizations.
• Membership in WIPO is open to any State which is a member of the Paris or Berne Convention, and to any other State satisfying the conditions established in the convention.
• As of September 1997, WIPO has a membership of 161 states.
• Canada became a member of WIPO on June 26, 1970.

WIPO’s Objectives

• to promote protection of intellectual property internationally through cooperation among States by:
  • concluding new international treaties and the modernizing national legislations;
  • providing technical assistance to the developing world;
  • assembling and disseminating industrial property information;
  • facilitating obtaining patents, trade-marks and industrial designs for which protection in several countries is desired (e.g., via Patent Cooperation Treaty); and
  • providing administrative cooperation among member States.
• to administer various multilateral treaties, through the International Bureau of WIPO, dealing with the legal and administrative aspects of intellectual property.

Organization

• WIPO has three governing bodies made up of member states:
  • General Assembly (whose members are WIPO members who are also members of one of the Paris or Berne Unions); meets at least once every 2 years, but more often if member states must take important decisions
  • Conference (all WIPO member states);
  • Coordination Committee (made up of members of the Paris and Berne Executive Committees).
• The new executive head of WIPO is Dr. Kamil Idris, who takes office as Director General on December 1, 1997. He was elected by the WIPO General Assembly in September 1997. He succeeds the outgoing Director General, Dr. Arpad Bogsch who will be retiring after 24 years of distinguished service.

Canada’s Role in WIPO

• CIPO is an active participant in WIPO activities, particularly in the area of industrial property harmonization, technical assistance and industrial property information and ensures that Canada’s interests are represented at meetings held at WIPO headquarters or in WIPO member states.

For further information:

Please see the WIPO Internet site at http://www.wipo.int