WIPO

World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO ) , founded in 1967, is a specialized UN agency dedicated to promoting the protection of intellectual property (IP) rights globally. It fosters international cooperation and develops legal frameworks for patents, trademarks, copyrights, industrial designs etc.It manages and develops international treaties concerning intellectual property, such as the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property (patents), the Berne Convention (copyright) and the Madrid Agreement (trademarks).

WIPO assists member states—especially developing countries—through technical support, training, and capacity building, helping them strengthen their IP systems and adapt legislation to technological and digital advancements.

Its main bodies include the General Assembly, Coordination Committee, and the Arbitration and Mediation Center. Key committees such as the Paris, Berne, and Madrid Assemblies oversee the implementation of respective treaties. WIPO also facilitates international registration systems like the Madrid System (trademarks) and Hague Agreement (industrial designs).

The current Director-General, since 2020, has been Daren Tang, the first Asian descent to lead WIPO. He focuses on using IP as a tool for economic development, particularly in smaller and developing countries.

In Greece, the Hellenic Industrial Property Organization (OBI) and the Hellenic Copyright Organization (HCO)monitors technical aspects of WIPO’s work and its specialized committees, while the Greek Permanent Mission in Geneva follows political and strategic developments within the organization.