WIPO Database of Intellectual Property
Legislative Texts

WIPO

Convention
Establishing the World Intellectual Property Organization
Signed at Stockholm on July 14, 1967 and as amended on September 28, 1979
The Contracting Parties,
Desiring to contribute to better understanding and cooperation among States for their mutual benefit
on the basis of respect for their sovereignty and equality,
Desiring, in order to encourage creative activity, to promote the protection of intellectual property
throughout the world,
Desiring to modernize and render more efficient the administration of the Unions established in the
fields of the protection of industrial property and the protection of literary and artistic works, while fully
respecting the independence of each of the Unions,
Agree as follows:
Article 1
Establishment of the Organization
The World Intellectual Property Organization is hereby established.
Article 2
Definitions
For the purposes of this Convention:
(i) “Organization” shall mean the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO);
(ii) “International Bureau” shall mean the International Bureau of Intellectual Property;
(iii) “Paris Convention” shall mean the Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property signed
on March 20, 1883, including any of its revisions;
(iv) “Berne Convention” shall mean the Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic
Works signed on September 9, 1886, including any of its revisions;
(v) “Paris Union” shall mean the International Union established by the Paris Convention;
(vi) “Berne Union” shall mean the International Union established by the Berne Convention;
(vii) “Unions” shall mean the Paris Union, the Special Unions and Agreements established in
relation with that Union, the Berne Union, and any other international agreement designed to
promote the protection of intellectual property whose administration is assumed by the
Organization according to Article 4(iii);
(viii) “intellectual property” shall include the rights relating to:
–
literary, artistic and scientific works,
–
performances of performing artists, phonograms, and broadcasts,
–
inventions in all fields of human endeavor,
–
scientific discoveries,
–
industrial designs,
–
trademarks, service marks, and commercial names and designations,
–
protection against unfair competition,
and all other rights resulting from intellectual activity in the industrial, scientific, literary or artistic
fields.

WO029EN

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