WIPO

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 * (World Intellectual Property Organization)**

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is involved in making international intellectual property law that member states then implement into their own national law.

WIPO argues that ‘copyright and its related rights are essential to human creativity.’ (Conceptual Issues in Cyberspace). If artists know their work is protected by the law, then recognition will follow. In 1996 the World Intellectual Property Organization concluded the WIPO Copyright Treaty (WIPO, 2004) that provides global protection for authors of artistic works.

Currently, one of the most pressing threat to consumers' rights at WIPO is the Broadcasting Treaty which proposes to grant broadcasting companies "copyrights" over the signals used to transmit information -- even if the programming belongs in the public domain

Other present activities of WIPO include the Development Agenda and possible treaties on Database Rights, Indigenous Knowledge, Patents, Trademarks, and Intellectual Property Enforcement.

Source: [|http://www.wipo.int/portal/index.html.en?9??10?]

=International Copyright Initiatives=


 * TRIPS (The Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) (1986-94) The Uruguay Round
 * Berne Convention (1928)
 * European Union Copyright Directive (2001)
 * WIPO Copyright Treaty (1996)
 * WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty (1996)

=External Links=

[|(WIPO)Official website]

[|WIPO ( Canada)]

[|The WIPO]