What Is WIPO?

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is the United Nations agency responsible for administering international intellectual property treaties and providing services that help inventors, businesses, and governments protect IP across borders. Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, WIPO serves 193 member states.

For inventors, WIPO is relevant primarily as the administrator of three systems they are likely to use: the PCT (patents), the Madrid System (trademarks), and the Hague System (designs).

What WIPO Does for Inventors

Administers the PCT. The Patent Cooperation Treaty — the mechanism for filing a single international patent application that preserves rights in more than 150 countries — is operated by WIPO. When you file a PCT application, it goes through WIPO's International Bureau. WIPO publishes the application, coordinates the international search, and manages national phase entry timelines.

Administers the Madrid System. The Madrid Protocol allows trademark owners to file a single international trademark application designating multiple countries. Like the PCT for patents, the Madrid System simplifies and reduces the cost of obtaining trademark protection globally. WIPO's International Bureau manages Madrid registrations.

Administers the Hague System. The Hague Agreement provides a single-filing mechanism for international design registration. WIPO manages the application, registration, and publication process.

Maintains PATENTSCOPE. WIPO's PATENTSCOPE database provides free access to millions of patent documents from around the world — including PCT applications, national filings from dozens of countries, and full-text search in multiple languages. It is one of the most important free tools for prior art searching.

Provides dispute resolution. The WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center handles domain name disputes (under the UDRP — Uniform Domain-Name Dispute-Resolution Policy) and offers arbitration and mediation services for IP disputes between private parties.

What WIPO Does Not Do

WIPO does not grant patents, register trademarks, or register designs. These are national acts performed by national or regional patent offices (USPTO, EPO, CNIPA, etc.). WIPO provides the international filing infrastructure — the highway — but each country decides independently whether to grant protection at the destination.

WIPO also does not enforce IP rights. Enforcement is a matter of national law, handled by national courts and enforcement authorities.

WIPO's Key Treaties for Inventors

Sources

1. WIPO — About WIPO — Overview of the World Intellectual Property Organization's role and mission
2. WIPO PCT System — The Patent Cooperation Treaty administered by WIPO
3. WIPO Madrid System — International trademark registration system
4. WIPO Hague System — International industrial design registration system
5. WIPO Administered Treaties — Complete list of IP treaties administered by WIPO