World Intellectual Property Organization
A United Nations specialized agency in Geneva that administers international IP protection, IP dispute resolution, balanced IP rules and multilingual IP data services for countries worldwide.
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is a United Nations specialized agency and a member-state-led global organization headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. Established in 1967 and brought into the United Nations system in 1974, it administers the international framework through which patents, trademarks, industrial designs and copyright are protected across borders. For legal professionals, its work sits at the intersection of intellectual property law, international treaty administration and dispute resolution.
WIPO provides international services for protecting intellectual property in multiple jurisdictions and operates services for resolving intellectual property disputes. It also develops balanced IP rules through intergovernmental processes and maintains multilingual data and information services that make IP documentation available to decision-makers, innovators and creators. The organization's technical domains span patents, trademarks, industrial designs, copyright, IP dispute resolution and innovation ecosystem support.
Beyond administration and rule-making, WIPO conducts technical assistance aimed at helping countries use intellectual property for growth and development, working within the United Nations system and with member states worldwide. Its remit covers innovation and technology, creative industries, and international trade and development, with a mandate rooted in international cooperation and cross-border protection of inventions and creative works.