WIPO - World Intellectual Property Organisation: Working, Functions & More for UPSC Notes!

WIPO stands for World Intellectual Property Organisation. It is the global forum for intellectual property policy, services, information and cooperation. The WIPO Convention, which created WIPO in 1967, outlines its mandate, governing bodies, and procedures. WIPO serves as a global forum for information, cooperation, policy, and services related to intellectual property (IP). WIPO is a self-funding agency of the United Nations consisting of 193 member states. The mission of WIPO is to take the lead in creating a balanced and effective international IP system that enables innovation and creativity for the welfare of all.

WIPO is one of the most important topics for the UPSC IAS exam. It covers a significant part of the International Organisations subject in the General Studies Paper-2 syllabus.

In this article, we shall cover the overview of WIPO, and study in detail its types, members, etc. for the UPSC exam.

Also, check out National Intellectual Property Rights Policy here.

Recent Update

World Intellectual Property Day

Every year on April 26th, the world celebrates World Intellectual Property Day with the aim of raising awareness about intellectual property and its protection. This annual event serves as an educational platform, informing individuals about the diverse methods to safeguard intellectual property, including copyright, trademarks, patents, and more. The main goal of observing World Intellectual Property (WIP) Day is to instill an understanding of the importance of safeguarding intellectual property and the means to do so. This occasion highlights the various aspects of intellectual property protection and underscores their significance. The idea for this day was first proposed during the 33rd Assembly Session of the WIPO Member States in September 1988 and was officially established on August 9th, 1999. Each year, WIPO introduces a new theme for World Intellectual Property Day, with the aim of inspiring female creators, entrepreneurs, and inventors.

World Intellectual Property Report 2022

The World Intellectual Property Report 2022 looks at historical scientific and technological advancements from vaccine development during the Coronavirus outbreak. It intended to the rise and prevalence of digital technologies of today to examine how crises like pandemics and wars can influence the evolution of innovation. The research also demonstrates how policymakers may encourage innovation in a path that best responds to societies’ needs to overcome the great problems of climate change and health.

Global Innovation Index 2022

WIPO publishes Global Innovation Index 2022 Global Innovation Index with Cornell University and INSEAD. The Global Innovation Index (GII) 2022 ranks India 40th out of 132 countries. Switzerland tops the list of the Global Innovation Index 2022 followed by the United States and Sweden. In 2021 the rank of India in the Global Innovation Index was 46th. The theme of the Global Innovation Index 2022 is “What is the future of innovation-driven growth?”.

Check out the list of the top 10 countries listed in the Global Innovation Index 2022.

The Global Innovation Index 2022 describes the advantages of two waves of novel innovation. These two fresh innovation waves include a Deep Science innovation wave based on advances in biotechnologies, nanotechnologies, new materials, and other sciences, as well as an innovation wave for the digital age, focused on supercomputing, artificial intelligence, and automation.

World Intellectual Property Indicators 2021

WIPO’s World Intellectual Property Indicators provides a yearly summary of activity in the fields of patents, utility models, trademarks, industrial designs, microorganisms, plant variety protection, geographical indications, and the creative economy. It makes use of statistics from roughly 150 national and regional IP offices, WIPO, survey information, and business sources.

The highlights of world intellectual property organisation WIPO 2021 indicators are listed below.

• Global patent applications increased by 1.6% in 2020.
• Asia accounted for two-thirds of all patent filing activity worldwide.
• India filed more than 400,000 trademark applications each year in 2020.
• In Brazil, China, and India, applicants from the United States were the most active foreign filers.
• India had over 370 Geographical Indications in force in 2020.

Source: WIPO Report

Source: WIPO Report

What is WIPO?

WIPO was established on 14 July 1967. It is one of the specialized agencies of the United Nations Organizations. India is also a member of WIPO, since 1975. The Secretariat of the Organization is called the International Bureau. The Organization has Liaison Offices in Japan (Tokyo), Singapore (Singapore), Brazil (Rio de Janeiro), and the United States of America (at the United Nations in New York). The Director General, who is chosen by the WIPO General Assembly, serves as the executive head of the International Bureau. He or she is supported by two or more Deputy Directors General.

World Intellectual Property Organisation at Glance
WIPO Full Form	World Intellectual Property Organisation
WIPO Established	14 July 1967
WIPO Headquarters	Geneva, Switzerland
WIPO Membership	193 countries
Director General	Daren Tang

What is Intellectual Property (IP)?

Intellectual property (IP) refers to creations of the mind, such as inventions; literary and artistic works; designs; symbols, names, and images used in commerce. Patents, copyright, and trademarks are a few examples of IP protection under the law that allow people to profit financially or gain recognition from their inventions. The IP system seeks to provide an environment where creativity and innovation can thrive by striking the correct balance between the interests of innovators and the larger public interest. Intellectual property rights (IPR) are rights granted for above mentioned Intellectual Properties.

WIPO Patentscope

Patentscope is used to search 106 million patent documents including 4.4 million published international patent applications (PCT). The access to international Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) applications is provided by the PATENTSCOPE database. It is provided on the day of publication and to patent documents of participating national and regional patent offices in full text format.

Types of Intellectual Properties

There are 6 types of intellectual properties: Copyrights, patents, Trademarks, Industrial designs, Geographical indications, and Trade secrets. A detailed explanation of these Intellectual Properties is given below.

A Brief History of World intellectual property organisation (WIPO)

The WIPO Convention, the constituent instrument of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), was signed in Stockholm on July 14, 1967, entered into force in 1970, and was amended in 1979. The origins of WIPO go back to 1883 and 1886 when the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property and the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works, respectively, were concluded. Both Conventions provided for the establishment of an “International Bureau”.

World intellectual property organisation (WIPO) Timeline
Year	Events	Description
1883	Paris Convention	Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property was the first major step taken to help creators ensure that their intellectual works were protected in other countries.
1886	Berne Convention	The aim of the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works is to give creators the right to control and receive payment for their creative works on an international level.
1891	Madrid Agreement	Madrid System for the international registration of marks, the first international IP filing service was launched.
1893	Establishment of BIRPI	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) comes into force and BIRPI is transformed and becomes WIPO.
1974	WIPO joins the UN	WIPO joins the United Nations (UN) and became a specialized agency of the UN.
1978	PCT System launched	The PCT international patent system is WIPO’s largest international IP filing system.
1994	Establishment of AMC	The WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center offers alternative dispute resolution services to help solve international commercial disputes between private parties.
1998	WIPO Academy	The WIPO Academy is established to provide general and specialized WIPO courses on IP.
2007	Adoption of WIPO Development Agenda	In order to make sure that development issues are taken into account throughout the Organization’s activity, WIPO formally endorses its development agenda.

Study in detail about WTO Agreements for UPSC Preparation!

WIPO’s Mandate

WIPO’s mandate is to lead the development of a balanced and effective international IP system that enables innovation and creativity for the benefit of all.

Article 3 of the WIPO Convention lists its objectives. The objectives of the WIPO are listed below:

• To promote the protection of intellectual property throughout the world through cooperation among States and, where appropriate, in collaboration with any other international organization,
• To ensure administrative cooperation among the Unions.

Membership of WIPO

WIPO has 193 members in total. An instrument of ratification or accession must be deposited with the Director General by a state before it can join WIPO. According to the WIPO Convention, any state that meets the following criteria is eligible to join:

• If it is a member of the Berne Union for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works; or
• Member of the Paris Union for the Protection of Industrial Property, or
• A member of the United Nations, or of any of the United Nations Specialized Agencies, or
• International Atomic Energy Agency, or that is a party to the Statute of the International Court of Justice; or
• If invited by the WIPO General Assembly to become a member state of the Organization.

Also, check out the article on the Index of Industrial Production here!

Working of WIPO

The primary decision-making bodies for each union’s member states are the Assemblies of the Member States, the WIPO General Assembly, the WIPO Conference, the WIPO Coordination Committee, and the WIPO (e.g., the PCT Union Assembly; the Madrid Union Assembly, etc.). Around 250 non-governmental and intergovernmental groups are also accredited as observers at WIPO meetings.

Strategic Goals of WIPO

The first phase of a comprehensive strategic realignment process inside the Organization saw the adoption of WIPO’s nine strategic goals by our member states in December 2008. They reflect the changing challenges confronting WIPO and intellectual property (IP). The strategic goals are listed below.

• Balanced Evolution of the International Normative Framework for IP
• Provision of Premier Global IP Services
• Facilitating the Use of IP for Development
• Coordination and Development of Global IP Infrastructure
• World Reference Source for IP Information and Analysis
• International Cooperation on Building Respect for IP
• Addressing IP in Relation to Global Policy Issues
• A Responsive Communications Interface between WIPO, its Member States and All Stakeholders
• An Efficient Administrative and Financial Support Structure to Enable WIPO to Deliver its Programs

Study in detail about World Bank Group here!

Functions of WIPO

The functions of WIPO as paper Article 3 of the WIPO Convention are listed below.

• It would encourage the creation of policies aimed at facilitating effective intellectual property protection on a global scale and coordinating national laws in this area.
• The administrative duties of the Paris Union, the Special Unions established in connection with that Union, and the Berne Union should be carried out by WIPO.
• Any further international agreement intended to advance the protection of intellectual property may be assumed by or involved in WIPO.
• It will push for the signing of international agreements aimed at advancing the defence of intellectual property.
• States desiring legal-technical help in the area of intellectual property may request collaboration with WIPO.
• It will assemble and disseminate information about intellectual property protection, conduct and support research in this area, and publish the findings of such research.
• WIPO must continue to offer services that aid in the protection of intellectual property abroad and, where necessary, arrange for registration in this area and the publication of data pertaining to registrations.

WIPO Treaties

The below table shows the various WIPO treaties, their purpose and whether it is acceded or ratified by India.

WIPO Treaties
Treaty	Purpose	Acceded/Ratified by India?
WIPO Performance and Phonograms Treaty	The WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty (WPPT) specifically addresses the rights of two types of beneficiaries in the digital environment. (i) performers (actors, singers, musicians, etc.) and (ii) producers of phonograms	Acceded: September 25, 2018
Budapest Treaty	Budapest Treaty on the International Recognition of the Deposit of Microorganisms for the Purposes of Patent Procedure was adopted in 1977.	Acceded: September 17, 2001
Madrid Protocol for the International Registration of Marks	The Madrid System is a cost-effective and convenient solution for registering and managing trademarks globally.	Acceded: April 8, 2013
Marrakesh Treaty	Marrakesh Treaty makes the production and international transfer of specially-adapted books for people with blindness or visual impairments easier. It does this by establishing a set of limitations and exceptions to traditional copyright law.	Ratified: June 24, 2014
WIPO Copyright Treaty	Under the Berne Convention, a specific agreement known as the WIPO Copyright Treaty (WCT) deals with the protection of works and the rights of their authors in the digital environment.	Acceded: September 25, 2018

WIPO and India

List of WIPO treaties acceded or ratified by India are:

Year	Treaty	Acceded/Ratified
1975	WIPO Convention	Acceded: January 31, 1975
1975	Phonograms Convention	Ratified: November 1, 1974
1983	Nairobi Treaty	Ratified: September 19, 1983
1998	Paris Convention	Acceded: September 7, 1998
1928	Berne Convention	Ratified: October 7, 1974
1998	Patent Cooperation Treaty	Acceded: September 7, 1998
2014	Marrakesh Treaty	Ratified: June 24, 2014
2019	Nice Agreement	Acceded: June 7, 2019
2019	Locarno Agreement	Acceded: June 7, 2019
2019	Vienna Agreement	Acceded: June 7, 2019

WIPO Publications

The WIPO publications collection includes a variety of knowledge products, including general guides, introductory overviews, and practical manuals, as well as yearly reports, economic research, and statistical analysis.

The WIPO published the World Intellectual Property Report 2022. The research explores the ways in which particular factors have influenced innovation and creation in recent times. India is currently rated 43rd out of 55 nations according to the International Intellectual Property Index, where the country’s overall score improved from 38.4% to 38.6%.

India’s initiatives for IPR Protection

Some of the major initiatives taken by India for IPR protection are listed below.

• Establishment of a Center of Excellence for National Intellectual Property Rights: MeitY has launched a number of efforts over the years to safeguard the intellectual property coming from our nation because it understands how important it is to establish a framework that is favourable for IPR protection.
• Supporting MeitY Societies and Grantee Institutions with IP Facilitation: To realise the Ministry’s vision of establishing a cutting-edge R&D paradigm in the nation, the Innovation and IPR Division has been assisting MeitY Societies and Grantee Institutions with IPR filings, including patents, copyrights, designs, and trademarks.
• Financial Support for International Patent Filing for Startups and SMEs: Utilizing IP is essential for improving innovation, competitiveness, and economic growth in India.
• Patent Analysis and Management System (PAMS): With the expansion of the IT industry and other technical industries, it is urgently necessary to preserve the intellectual property (IP) produced in India.
• Creation of IPR Awareness through Digital Media: The laws governing copyright in India are the Copyrights Act and the Information Technology Act, 2000 (for copyright in electronics and digital fields).
• Geographical Indications: The Geographical Indications of Goods Act, 1999, which the DIPP administers, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, governs GIs.

Conclusion

World Intellectual Property Organisation is significant for India from many perspectives such as economic, political, social and cultural also. Geographical Indication is an important aspect of this and Indians have contributed to it as well. Every state of India has a unique talent that leads to economic and political growth. Therefore, contributing significantly to WIPO is the need of the hour.

Testbook provides a set of comprehensive notes for different competitive exams. Testbook is always on the top of the list because of its best quality assured products like live tests, mocks, Content pages, GK and current affairs videos, and much more. To study more topics for UPSC, download the Testbook App now!