What does WIPO do?

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The United Nations created the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in 1967 to protect intellectual property and promote innovation. WIPO provides legal protections for original ideas and inventions through trademarks, copyrights, patents, and industrial designs. WIPO has 184 participating nations and 19 bodies that address specific intellectual property topics. The Secretariat oversees WIPO’s objectives and tasks, and its network of trademarks, designs, and patents provides an accessible database for cross-checking inventions and creations.

In 1967 the international organization formally recognized as the United Nations devised and implemented the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) to safeguard intellectual property from theft and misappropriation. By extending a protective measure to creative and intellectual works, the United Nations seeks to promote an innovative intellectual activity and provide a free forum for its exchange. Within the United Nations organization, the World Intellectual Property Organization is considered a specialized agency.

The World Intellectual Property Organization was founded with the primary objective of protecting intellectual property, which is underpinned by a number of legal measures. As defined by WIPO, intellectual properties are those original thoughts, concepts and creations that an individual conceives and brings to development. Intellectual property embraces various mediums from artistic to industrial. These new ideas and inventions are formally identified in one of two classifications as works of industry or works of art and literature. Much of WIPO’s activities involve legal protections such as trademarks, copyrights, patents and industrial designs.

There are a total of 184 participating nations in the World Intellectual Property Organization. WIPO’s operations and activities depend largely on its members, and individuals from over 90 member nations work in the World Intellectual Property Organization in an administrative capacity. They may possess expertise in many relevant fields, including law, public policy and information technology, which they apply in their respective roles as staff members of the Secretariat, the management body of WIPO.

Also known as the International Bureau, the Secretariat carries out the weight of WIPO’s objectives and tasks, overseeing their implementation and functioning. The Secretariat ensures that the meetings of the WIPO bodies take place and that the programs are carried out according to the guidelines. It also provides expert resources for those seeking intellectual property advice. The World Intellectual Property Organization sets goals and the Secretariat implements them.

The programmes, treaties and general policies of the World Intellectual Property Organization are established by 19 bodies of WIPO. Members meet in various assemblies, committees, and groups, each of which is designated to address specific intellectual property topics, including trademarks, copyrights, technology, and more. The meetings are organized in Geneva, Switzerland, where WIPO is based, on an annual basis.

An important component of the World Intellectual Property Organization is its comprehensive network of trademarks, designs and patents. This system allows WIPO to unify all of its bases and provides an accessible database for cross-checking inventions and creations to all nations. It also allows for a measure of accountability in the protection of intellectual property.




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