Introduction and meaning of intellectual property, a brief introduction to GATT, WTO, TRIPs and WIPO, Treaties for IPR protection: Madrid Protocol, Berne Convention, Budapest treaty, etc
Intellectual property (IP) refers to the creations of the mind, such as inventions, literary and artistic works, symbols, names, images, and designs used in commerce. IP is protected by law in order to give creators and owners exclusive rights to control and profit from the use of their creations. The four main types of IP are patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets.
The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) is a treaty signed in 1947 by 23 countries to reduce tariffs and other barriers to international trade. The World Trade Organization (WTO) was established in 1995 as a successor to GATT and currently has 164 member countries. The WTO's main function is to ensure that trade flows as smoothly, predictably, and freely as possible.
The Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPs) is a treaty that is part of the WTO's agreements and was established in 1995. TRIPs sets minimum standards for the protection and enforcement of IP rights for member countries. This agreement aims to ensure that IP rights are protected in the same way in all countries and that they do not create unnecessary barriers to trade.
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that is responsible for promoting the protection of IP rights worldwide. WIPO provides technical assistance and advice to countries, and it also administers several international IP treaties.
The Madrid Protocol is an international treaty that allows trademark owners to register their marks in multiple countries by filing a single application with their own national or regional trademark office.
The Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works is an international agreement that governs copyright. It was first adopted in Berne, Switzerland in 1886 and has been revised several times since then. The convention sets minimum standards for copyright protection and requires member countries to recognize the copyrights of works from other member countries.
The Budapest Treaty on the International Recognition of the Deposit of Microorganisms for the Purposes of Patent Procedure is an international treaty that governs the deposit of microorganisms for patent procedures. It was adopted in 1977 and provides a system for the deposit, maintenance, and distribution of microorganisms for patent procedures.
Overall, these Treaties are established to protect the Intellectual property rights of creators, inventors, and owners internationally, making sure that the rights to their creations are protected and recognized across borders and ensuring a level of standardization in the protection and enforcement of these rights.