WIPO World Intellectual Property Day is observed annually on | International organisations

WIPO

World Intellectual Property Day is observed annually on April 26 to raise awareness about the importance of intellectual property (IP) rights in fostering innovation & creativity.

About World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO)
- The WIPO is the global forum for intellectual property (IP) services, policy, information & cooperation.
- It is a self-funding agency of the United Nations, with 193 member states.


HISTORY OF WIPO

1883 – Paris Convention
- This international agreement is the 1st major step taken to help creators ensure that their intellectual works are protected in other countries.

1886 – Berne Convention
- The aim is to give creators the right to control & receive payment for their creative works on an international level.


1891 – Madrid Agreement
- With the adoption of the Madrid Agreement, the first international IP filing service was launched: the Madrid System for the international registration of marks.


1893 – BIRPI established
- The two secretariats set up to administer the Paris and Berne Conventions combine to form WIPO's immediate predecessor, the United International Bureaux for the Protection of Intellectual Property (BIRPI).


1970 – BIRPI becomes WIPO
- The Convention establishing the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) came into force and BIRPI was thus transformed to become WIPO.


1974 – WIPO joins the UN
- WIPO joins the United Nations (UN) family of organizations, becoming a specialized agency of the UN.


1978 – PCT System launched
- The PCT international patent system begins operation. The PCT expands rapidly to become WIPO's largest international IP filing system today.

1994 – AMC established
- The WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center was established for offering alternative dispute resolution services to help solve international commercial disputes between private parties.

1998 – WIPO Academy opens its doors
- The WIPO Academy was established to provide general and specialized courses on IP.

2007 – WIPO Development Agenda adopted
- WIPO formally adopts its Development Agenda, with the aim of ensuring that development issues are taken into consideration throughout the Organization's work.