International organizations for intellectual property protection
Which international organizations protect intellectual property?
World Intellectual Property Organization
(WIPO)
The biggest International organization
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is the global forum for services, policymaking, information and cooperation in the field of intellectual property. It is a self-financing UN organization, a major authority among all international organizations for the protection of intellectual property, with 192 member states.
WIPO’s mission is to guide the development of a balanced and effective international system that enables the protection of innovation and creativity for the benefit of all. The main objects of intellectual property that are maintained in the World Intellectual Property Organization are: PCT application for patent for invention, international trademark and international industrial design.
European Patent Office
(EPO)
Regional organization on the level of the International organizations
The European Patent Office (EPO) is a part of international authorities for the protection of intellectual property. It examines European patent applications, enabling inventors, researchers and companies from around the world to obtain protection for their inventions in 44 countries through a centralized and uniform procedure that requires only one European patent application.
The EPO is one of the biggest organizations for public service in Europe, employing around 7,000 people from 35 different nationalities. 4,300 of them are highly qualified scientists and engineers working as patent examiners in all areas of technology.
The European Patent Office has its headquarters in Munich, a branch in The Hague and offices in Berlin, Vienna and Brussels.
European Union Intellectual Property Office
(EUIPO)
EUIPO is the European Union Intellectual Property Office responsible for the management of a European trademark and registered Community design (European Industrial Design). It is part of the international organizations for the protection of intellectual property, which operates within the European Union.
The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) was known as OHIM until March 23, 2016. It can grant you exclusive trademark and design protection rights throughout the European Union (EU) with just one application.
Other International organizations
(Regional authorities)
There are many regional authorities among international organizations for the protection of intellectual property. Their purpose is to protect the objects of industrial property and / or copyright for certain territories by countries. The European Patent Office and the European Union Intellectual Property Office have the functions of this type of organization. In addition, some of the more well-known regional intellectual property protection authorities are:
∴ ARIPO – African Regional Intellectual Property Organization
∴ OAPI – Organisation Africaine de la Propriété Intellectuelle
∴ ASBU – Arab States Broadcasting Union
∴ BOIP – Benelux Office for Intellectual Property
∴ UPOV – International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants
∴ GCCPO – Gulf Cooperation Council Patent Office
Protection of Intellectual property in different countries
(National offices*)
A
Industrial Property
Copyright
Angola
B
Industrial Property
В
Г
Д
Е
З
И
Й
К
Industrial Property
Л
М
Industrial Property
Н
О
Copyright
Oman
П
Р
С
T
Industrial Property
Copyright
Tuvalu
