Global InformationWorld Intellectual Property Organization information
 | |
| Abbreviation | WIPO |
|---|---|
| Formation | 14 July 1967 |
| Type | United Nations specialised agency |
| Legal status | Active |
| Headquarters | Geneva, Switzerland |
Membership | 193 member states |
Head | Daren Tang Director General |
Parent organization | United Nations Economic and Social Council |
| Website | wipo.int |
 Politics portal | |
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO; French: Organisation mondiale de la propriété intellectuelle (OMPI)) is one of the 15 specialized agencies of the United Nations (UN).[1][2][notes 1] Pursuant to the 1967 Convention Establishing the World Intellectual Property Organization, WIPO was created to promote and protect intellectual property (IP) across the world by cooperating with countries as well as international organizations.[5] It began operations on 26 April 1970 when the convention entered into force. The current Director General is Singaporean Daren Tang, former head of the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore, who began his term on 1 October 2020.[6]
WIPO's activities include hosting forums to discuss and shape international IP rules and policies, providing global services that register and protect IP in different countries, resolving transboundary IP disputes, helping connect IP systems through uniform standards and infrastructure, and serving as a general reference database on all IP matters; this includes providing reports and statistics on the state of IP protection or innovation both globally and in specific countries.[7] WIPO also works with governments, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and individuals to utilize IP for socioeconomic development.
WIPO administers 26 international treaties that concern a wide variety of intellectual property issues, ranging from the protection of audiovisual works to establishing international patent classification.[8] It is governed by the General Assembly and the Coordination Committee, which together set policy and serve as the main decision making bodies. The General Assembly also elects WIPO's chief administrator, the Director General, currently Daren Tang of Singapore, who took office on 1 October 2020.[9] WIPO is administered by a Secretariat that helps carry out its day-to-day activities.
Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, WIPO has "external offices" around the world, including in Algiers (Algeria); Rio de Janeiro (Brazil); Beijing (China), Tokyo (Japan); Abuja (Nigeria); Moscow (Russia); and Singapore (Singapore).[10] Unlike most UN organizations, WIPO does not rely heavily on assessed or voluntary contributions from member states; 95 percent of its budget comes from fees related to its global services.[11]
WIPO currently has 193 member states,[12] including 190 UN member states and the Cook Islands, Holy See and Niue; Palestine has permanent observer status.[13] The only non-members, among the countries recognized by the UN are the Federated States of Micronesia, Palau and South Sudan.[citation needed]
- ^ "Repertory of Practice of United Nations Organs Supplement No. 10 (2000–2009) – Article 17(3)" (PDF). United Nations. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 October 2013. Retrieved 18 September 2013.
The number of specialized agencies thus rose to fifteen.
- ^ "What are UN specialized agencies, and how many are there?". Dag Hammarskjöld Library. Archived from the original on 11 March 2018. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
There are currently 15 specialized agencies: ...
- ^ "UN Specialized Agencies". Dag Hammarskjöld Library. Archived from the original on 11 March 2018. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
There are 17 Specialized Agencies: ...
- ^ "World Bank Group". Dag Hammarskjöld Library / UN System Documentation. Archived from the original on 12 March 2018. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
... IBRD, IFC and IDA are Specialized Agencies of the UN ...
- ^ "Convention Establishing the World Intellectual Property Organization signed at Stockholm on 14 July 1967, Preamble, second paragraph". Wipo.int. Archived from the original on 11 May 2012. Retrieved 19 October 2008.
- ^ "Director General Daren Tang on WIPO Website". Archived from the original on 14 October 2020. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
- ^ "Inside WIPO". www.wipo.int. Archived from the original on 26 May 2020. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
- ^ WIPO. "Treaties administered by WIPO – Consulted 26 June 2013". Wipo.int. Archived from the original on 27 September 2016. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
- ^ "Daren Tang Assumes Functions as WIPO Director General". Wipo.int. Archived from the original on 8 October 2020. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
- ^ "WIPO External Offices". Retrieved 29 April 2021.
- ^ "Results, Budget and Performance". Retrieved 29 April 2021.
- ^ WIPO. "List of members states of WIPO". Wipo.int. Archived from the original on 15 June 2008. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
- ^ WIPO (25 November 2011). "Palestine WIPO status". Wipo.int. Archived from the original on 11 June 2012. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
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