Background knowledge

Property rights

International

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World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), based in Geneva, was founded in 1967 to simplify the international registration of trademarks, designs and other property rights.

WIPO’s main task is to develop and promote a balanced and harmonized system in the field of patents, trademarks, copyrights and other intellectual property rights worldwide. WIPO’s main objective is to promote innovation and enable the free and fair exchange of knowledge and technology, which ultimately contributes to economic development and cultural diversity. To this end, the organization supports its 193 member states by providing technical advice, training and information services, enabling national and international legal systems to be better aligned. In addition, WIPO provides platforms and mechanisms for resolving intellectual property disputes in order to resolve conflicts efficiently and fairly. With these measures, WIPO not only strengthens trust in the international IP system, but also helps to ensure that creative and innovative achievements are adequately protected and remunerated worldwide.

International registration of trademarks – Madrid System

Through the Madrid Agreement (MMA) and the Protocol to the Madrid Agreement (PMMA), owners of a national trademark (the so-called basic trademark) of a member state can extend their trademark rights to the other member states with a single international registration via WIPO. This simplifies the registration process enormously and thus reduces effort and costs compared to individual registrations in the respective countries. Trademarks can be registered in 130 countries around the world (as of February 2025), including all EU countries, Switzerland, Japan, China, USA, Canada, Brazil, China, Turkey, Australia and New Zealand. The complete list of members can be found on the WIPO website.

International registration of designs – Hager System

The Hague Agreement Concerning the International Deposit of Industrial Designs enables owners of a national design from one member state to extend their design protection to the other member states with a single international registration via the WIPO. This simplifies the application process enormously and thus reduces effort and costs compared to individual applications in the respective countries. Designs can be registered in 98 countries around the world (as of February 2025), including all EU countries, Switzerland, Japan, the USA, Canada, China, Brazil and Turkey. The complete list of members can be found on the WIPO website.

International registration of patents – PCT system

The Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) enables owners of a national patent from one member state to extend their patent protection to the other member states with a single international registration via the WIPO. This simplifies the application process enormously and thus reduces effort and costs compared to individual applications in the respective countries. Patents can be registered in 158 countries around the world (as of February 2025), including all EU countries, Switzerland, Japan, the USA, China, Canada, Russia, Turkey, Brazil, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. The complete list of members can be found on the WIPO website.

International registration of designations of origin – Lisbon system

The Lisbon Agreement on the protection of designations of origin allows owners of a protected designation of origin or geographical indication from one member state to extend their protection to the other member states with a single international registration via WIPO. This simplifies the registration process enormously and thus reduces effort and costs compared to individual registrations in the respective countries. Comparatively few countries (44 as of February 2025) have joined the Lisbon System so far. The complete list of members can be found on the WIPO website.