UNGIS

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is dedicated to developing a balanced and accessible international intellectual property (IP) system that rewards creativity, stimulates innovation and contributes to economic development while safeguarding the public interest.

It was established following the conclusion of the Convention Establishing the World Intellectual Property Organization in Stockholm in 1967.  Its mandate is to promote the protection of IP through cooperation among states and in collaboration with other international organisations.  The WIPO Convention entered into force on 26 April1970.  The Organization became a UN specialised agency in 1974.

WIPO administers 24 treaties that deal with different legal and administrative aspects of intellectual property, notably the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property (173 contracting parties as of June 2011), the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works (164 contractiog parties) and the Patent Cooperation Treaty (143 contractiog parties).