WIPO’s Contributions to International Cooperation on Intellectual Property

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has enhanced global cooperation in a key area of International Economic Law. In particular, WIPO’s international intellectual property (IP) treaties have done much to bridge the territorial nature of IP with the business needs of innovators and brand owners who operate in an interconnected global economy. They also vividly illustrate the benefits of multilateral cooperation: IP can flow from anywhere to everywhere, thus requiring a truly global approach toward cooperation. Here, we explain some of the practical benefits of WIPO’s Patent Cooperation Treaty, Madrid, and Hague Systems, especially over the last 25 years. Their success has made these systems even more attractive to IP users worldwide and has transformed WIPO’s international filing mechanisms into a truly global endeavor.