2007WORLD INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ORGANIZATIONAN OVERVIEW2007 edition1007E-Overview 14.09.2007 19:10 Page 1INTRODUCING WIPOPROMOTING UNDERSTANDING OF IP; REALIZING ITS DEVELOPMENT POTENTIALTECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND CAPACITY-BUILDINGDEVELOPING IP LAW DELIVERING GLOBAL IP SERVICESMANAGEMENT AND FINANCECONTENTS28182632401007E-Overview 14.09.2007 19:10 Page 2Intellectual property is a multi-faceted subject; and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO),as these pages show, is a multi-faceted organization. Among the United Nations family of organizations,WIPO is unusual for the breadth and diversity of its functions. These range from providing a forum for Member States to negotiate international intellectual property treaties and standards, to assistinggovernments in using intellectual property as part of their development strategies; from providingeducation and skills training on all levels, to delivering commercial intellectual property services to the private sector.Indeed, WIPO is the only UN organization to be largely funded by revenue from the services which it provides. WIPO’s constituency is wide. Ensuring maximum inclusion of all our stakeholders in our work is fundamental toeverything we do. If the intellectual property system is to be truly effective in promoting creativity and innovation,we must make it accessible to all who wish to use it. If it is to be truly democratic, we must ensure a forum forall who wish to be heard in the debates on its future development.This WIPO Overview explains in simple terms how WIPO works, and how it carries out its mission of promotinga balanced intellectual property system. The Overview streamlines and improves the accessibility of two of ourkey public information publications, by combining into a single publication the former General Information Brochureand the Annual Report. While far from exhaustive, the booklet includes recent highlights and examples whichillustrate the range of WIPO’s activities and achievements. These will be updated in a new edition each year. As the intellectual property arena evolves, so does WIPO. I invite all our friends and stakeholders to follow thatevolution in these pages1PREFACEKamil IdrisDirector GeneralWIPO1007E-Overview 14.09.2007 19:11 Page 12Intellectual property (IP), once seen as anobscure topic for legal experts, has todaybecome a central concern for governments,for businesses, for civil society, for scientistsand for individual creators. In a world wherethe economic growth of nations is drivenincreasingly by the creativity and knowledgeof their people, effective IP systems – whichcreate incentives for innovation and structures for sharing the results – are key to unlockingthis human potential.WIPO’s headquarters inGeneva house the staff ofthe secretariat, employed tocarry out the wide range oftasks mandated by WIPO’s184 Member StatesINTRODUCING WIPO1007E-Overview 14.09.2007 19:11 Page 2As awareness of the importance of the IP system has increased, so too has debate as to how it should beapplied and regulated. Challenges facing policy makers today include establishing the right levels ofprotection in international agreements, so as to ensure that IP serves to bridge rather than widen the dividebetween developed and developing countries. Of equal importance is striking an optimum balance betweenthe rights of IP-owners and the public interest in accessing new technology and creations. The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations, located inGeneva, Switzerland. It is dedicated to developing a balanced and accessible international IP system, whichrewards creativity, stimulates innovation and contributes to the economic, social and cultural developmentof all countries, while safeguarding the public interest. CORE TASKSWIPO carries out a wide variety of tasks related to the protection of IP rights. These include assistinggovernments and organizations to develop the policies, structures and skills needed to harness the potentialof IP for economic development; working with Member States to develop international IP law; administeringtreaties; running global registration systems for trademarks, industrial designs and appellations of origin anda filing system for patents; delivering dispute resolution services; and providing a forum for informed debateand for the exchange of expertise. Rapid technological change, combined with intensified international debate about IP, has greatly increasedthe scope, significance and scrutiny of WIPO’s work. In rising to meet the new challenges, WIPO aims fortransparency and inclusiveness, encouraging all stakeholders to participate in the international dialogue.This booklet describes WIPO’s main areas of activity, grouped broadly according to the five strategic goals ofthe Organization, and provides examples of recent highlights and results in each area.3What is IP?1007E-Overview 14.09.2007 19:11 Page 3HOW WIPO WORKSWIPO was established in 1970, following the entry into force of the 1967 WIPO Convention, with a mandatefrom its Member States to promote the protection of IP throughout the world, through cooperation amongstates and in collaboration with other international organizations. WIPO’s Member States determine the strategic direction and approve the activities of the Organization.Delegates from the Member States meet in the Assemblies, committees and working groups. The maindecision-making bodiesof the Member States are: The WIPO General Assembly; the WIPO Conference; theWIPO Coordination Committee; and the Assemblies of the Member States of each of the Unions, (e.g. thePCT Union Assembly; the Madrid Union Assembly etc.). Over 250 non-governmental organizations andintergovernmental organizations are accredited as observers at WIPO meetings.WIPO’s mission to promote the effective use and protection of IP worldwide is translated into strategicgoals, and into the programs and activities through which WIPO works to achieve these goals. These aredetailed in the biennial Program and Budget document, approved by the Member States. 4Intellectual property refers to the creations of the mindIntellectual property is divided into two categories:Industrial propertyincludes patents for inventions, trademarks, industrial designs and geographicalindications.Copyright and related rightscover literary and artistic expressions (e.g. books, films, music, architecture,art), plus the rights of
View Full Document
Unlocking...