1007E Overview 14 09 2007 19 10 Page 1 WORLD INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ORGANIZATION 2007 AN OVERVIEW 2007 edition 1007E Overview 14 09 2007 19 10 Page 2 CONTENTS 2 INTRODUCING WIPO 8 P R O M O T I N G U N D E R S TA N D I N G O F I P R E A L I Z I N G I T S D E V E L O P M E N T P O T E N T I A L 18 T E C H N I C A L A S S I S TA N C E A N D C A PA C I T Y B U I L D I N G 26 D E V E L O P I N G I P L AW 32 D E L I V E R I N G G L O B A L I P S E RV I C E S 40 MANAGEMENT AND FINANCE 1007E Overview 14 09 2007 19 11 Page 1 1 PREFACE Intellectual 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 assisting governments in using intellectual property as part of their development strategies from providing education 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 to everything 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 for all 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 promoting a balanced intellectual property system The Overview streamlines and improves the accessibility of two of our key public information publications by combining into a single publication the former General Information Brochure and the Annual Report While far from exhaustive the booklet includes recent highlights and examples which illustrate 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 that evolution in these pages Kamil Idris Director General WIPO 1007E Overview 14 09 2007 19 11 Page 2 INTRODUCING WIPO WIPO s headquarters in Geneva house the staff of the secretariat employed to carry out the wide range of tasks mandated by WIPO s 184 Member States 2 Intellectual property IP once seen as an obscure topic for legal experts has today become a central concern for governments for businesses for civil society for scientists and for individual creators In a world where the economic growth of nations is driven increasingly by the creativity and knowledge of their people effective IP systems which create incentives for innovation and structures for sharing the results are key to unlocking this human potential 1007E Overview 14 09 2007 19 11 Page 3 3 As awareness of the importance of the IP system has increased so too has debate as to how it should be applied and regulated Challenges facing policy makers today include establishing the right levels of protection in international agreements so as to ensure that IP serves to bridge rather than widen the divide between developed and developing countries Of equal importance is striking an optimum balance between the 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 in Geneva Switzerland It is dedicated to developing a balanced and accessible international IP system which rewards creativity stimulates innovation and contributes to the economic social and cultural development of all countries while safeguarding the public interest CORE TASKS WIPO carries out a wide variety of tasks related to the protection of IP rights These include assisting governments and organizations to develop the policies structures and skills needed to harness the potential of IP for economic development working with Member States to develop international IP law administering treaties running global registration systems for trademarks industrial designs and appellations of origin and a filing system for patents delivering dispute resolution services and providing a forum for informed debate and for the exchange of expertise Rapid technological change combined with intensified international debate about IP has greatly increased the scope significance and scrutiny of WIPO s work In rising to meet the new challenges WIPO aims for transparency 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 of the Organization and provides examples of recent highlights and results in each area What is IP 1007E Overview 14 09 2007 19 11 Page 4 Intellectual property refers to the creations of the mind Intellectual property is divided into two categories Industrial property includes patents for inventions trademarks industrial designs and geographical indications Copyright and related rights cover literary and artistic expressions e g books films music architecture art plus the rights of performing artists in their performances producers of phonograms in their recordings and broadcasters in their radio and television broadcasts Intellectual property rights allow the creator or the owner of a patent trademark or copyright to benefit from his or her own work or investment in a creation HOW WIPO WORKS WIPO was established in 1970 following the entry into force of the 1967 WIPO Convention with a mandate from its Member States to promote the protection of IP throughout the world through cooperation among states 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 main decision making bodies of the Member States are The WIPO General Assembly the WIPO Conference the WIPO Coordination Committee and the Assemblies of the Member States of each of the Unions e g the PCT Union Assembly the Madrid Union Assembly etc Over 250
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