CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="uk" class="uk no-js "> <head> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"> <meta name="robots" content="noindex"> <meta name="viewport" content='width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0"'> <meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=edge"> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/look/fsfe.min.css?20230215" type="text/css"> <link rel="stylesheet" media="print" href="/look/print.css" type="text/css"> <link rel="icon" href="/graphics/fsfe.ico" type="image/x-icon"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="/graphics/touch-icon.png" type="image/png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" href="/graphics/touch-icon.png" type="image/png"> <link rel="alternate" title="FSFE " href="/news/news.uk.rss" type="application/rss+xml"> <link rel="alternate" title="FSFE " href="/events/events.uk.rss" type="application/rss+xml"> <link type="text/html" rel="alternate" hreflang="de" lang="de" href="/activities/wipo/wipo.de.html" title="Deutsch"> <link type="text/html" rel="alternate" hreflang="el" lang="el" href="/activities/wipo/wipo.el.html" title="Ελληνικά"> <link type="text/html" rel="alternate" hreflang="en" lang="en" href="/activities/wipo/wipo.en.html" title="English"> <link type="text/html" rel="alternate" hreflang="es" lang="es" href="/activities/wipo/wipo.es.html" title="Español"> <link type="text/html" rel="alternate" hreflang="fr" lang="fr" href="/activities/wipo/wipo.fr.html" title="Français"> <link type="text/html" rel="alternate" hreflang="it" lang="it" href="/activities/wipo/wipo.it.html" title="Italiano"> <link type="text/html" rel="alternate" hreflang="nl" lang="nl" href="/activities/wipo/wipo.nl.html" title="Nederlands"> <meta name="description" content="The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is one of the 16 specialized agencies of the United Nations system of organisations. Its role is admini..."> <meta name="fediverse:creator" content="@fsfe@mastodon.social"> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary"> <meta name="twitter:site" content="@fsfe"> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://fsfe.org/graphics/logo-text_square.png"> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Observing the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) - FSFE"> <meta name="twitter:description" content="The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is one of the 16 specialized agencies of the United Nations system of organisations. Its role is admini..."> <meta property="og:type" content="article"> <meta property="og:site_name" content="FSFE - Free Software Foundation Europe"> <meta property="og:image" content="https://fsfe.org/graphics/logo-text_square.png"> <meta property="og:locale" content="uk"> <meta property="og:url" content="https://fsfe.org/activities/wipo/wipo.html"> <meta property="og:title" content="Observing the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) - FSFE"> <meta property="og:description" content="The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is one of the 16 specialized agencies of the United Nations system of organisations. Its role is admini..."> <script src="/scripts/jquery-3.5.1.min.js"></script><script src="/scripts/modernizr.custom.65251.js"></script> <title>Observing the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) - FSFE</title> </head> <body> <nav id="translations" class="alert"><a class="close" data-toggle="collapse" data-target="#translations" href="#"> × </a><a class="contribute-translation" href="/contribute/translators/index.uk.html">Translate this page?</a><ul> <li><a href="/activities/wipo/wipo.de.html">Deutsch</a></li> <li><a href="/activities/wipo/wipo.el.html">Ελληνικά</a></li> <li><a href="/activities/wipo/wipo.en.html">English</a></li> <li><a href="/activities/wipo/wipo.es.html">Español</a></li> <li><a href="/activities/wipo/wipo.fr.html">Français</a></li> <li><a href="/activities/wipo/wipo.it.html">Italiano</a></li> <li><a href="/activities/wipo/wipo.nl.html">Nederlands</a></li> </ul></nav><header id="top"><div id="masthead"><a id="logo" href="/index.uk.html"><span>Free Software Foundation Europe</span></a></div> <nav id="menu"><p>Go to:</p> <ul id="direct-links"> <li id="direct-to-menu-list"><a href="#menu-list">Menu</a></li> <li id="direct-to-content"><a href="#content">Content</a></li> <li id="direct-to-page-info"><a href="#page-info">Page info</a></li> </ul> <input type="checkbox" id="burger"><label for="burger"><i class="fa fa-bars fa-lg"></i></label><div id="menu-list"> <ul><li id="menu-donate"><a href="https://my.fsfe.org/donate?referrer=https://fsfe.org/activities/wipo/wipo.html"><i class="fa fa-heart-o fa-lg"></i> Donate</a></li></ul> <ul id="menu-sections"> <li><a href="/about/about.uk.html">About</a></li> <li><a href="/activities/activities.uk.html">Activities</a></li> <li><a href="/contribute/contribute.uk.html">Contribute</a></li> <li class="visible-xs"><a href="/news/news.uk.html">Latest News</a></li> <li class="visible-xs"><a href="/events/events.uk.html">Upcoming Events</a></li> <li class="visible-xs"><a href="/news/podcast.uk.html">Podcast</a></li> <li><a href="/press/press.uk.html">Press</a></li> </ul> <ul> <li><a href="https://my.fsfe.org/"><i class="fa fa-sign-in fa-lg"></i> Login</a></li> <li id="menu-translations"><a href="#translations" data-toggle="collapse" data-target="#translations"><i class="fa fa-globe fa-lg"></i> Change language</a></li> <li id="menu-search-box"><form method="GET" action="/search/search.uk.html"><div class="input-group"> <div class="input-group-btn"><button class="btn btn-primary" type="submit"><i class="fa fa-search"></i></button></div> <input placeholder="Search terms..." type="text" name="q" size="10" class="form-control"> </div></form></li> </ul> </div></nav></header><div id="notifications"> <div class="alert warning yellow"> <a class="close" data-dismiss="alert" href="#" aria-hidden="true"> × </a><p> This page has not been translated yet. <a href="/contribute/translators/translators.uk.html">Please help us to translate</a> this and other pages on fsfe.org, so people can read our message in their native language. </p> </div> <div id="infobox"></div> </div> <main><div id="content" lang="en"> <h3 id="id-changing-the">Changing the</h3> <h1 id="id-world-intellectual-property-organization-wipo">World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)</h1> <div class="image right"> <img src="/activities/wipo/wipo.en.png" alt="WIPO Logo" width="200" height="140"> </div> <p> The <a href="http://www.wipo.org">World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)</a> is one of the 16 specialized agencies of the <a href="http://www.un.org">United Nations</a> system of organisations. Its role is administrating 23 international treates dealing with different aspects of limited monopolies on knowledge. </p> <p> According to its own <a href="http://www.wipo.org">web page</a>, it is </p> <p class="indent"> <em> "an international organization dedicated to promoting the use and protection of works of the human spirit. These works -- intellectual property -- are expanding the bounds of science and technology and enriching the world of the arts. Through its work, WIPO plays an important role in enhancing the quality and enjoyment of life, as well as creating real wealth for nations." </em> </p> <p> As explained in articles such as "<a href="/activities/wsis/issues.uk.html">Fighting intellectual poverty</a>" or "<a href="/activities/wipo/iprip.uk.html">On 'Intellectual Property' and Indigenous Peoples</a>" on FSFEs web page -- as well as many others on the net -- the statement above did not match reality in the past. The <a href="http://www.cptech.org/ip/wipo/genevadeclaration.html">Geneva Declaration</a> states clearly how in the past WIPO has had a history of "intellectually weak, ideologically rigid, and sometimes brutally unfair and inefficient policies." </p> <p> For anyone involved in questions of freedom in a digital age, such as Free Software Foundation Europe, WIPO is often at the root of current threats, such as <a href="/activities/swpat/index.uk.html">software patents</a>, the <a href="/activities/eucd/index.uk.html">European Copyright Directive (EUCD)</a> and others. When these come to a European or national level, we often find that little room for change exists. </p> <p> Instead of reacting to legislative projects individually when they are passed down, Free Software Foundation Europe is proactively facilitating more useful legislation at its root, the global level, in which WIPO is one key player. For that reason, FSFE has requested observer status to WIPO in 2003, which was granted during the Assemblies of the Member States of WIPO from September 27 to October 5, 2004. </p> <p> Together with a global coalition of other players with similar goals, FSFE will work to change the "World Intellectual Property Organization" into a "<a href="/activities/wipo/wiwo.uk.html">World Intellectual Wealth Organisation</a>." </p> <h3 id="id-documents">Documents</h3> <ul> <li><p><b><a href="/activities/wipo/statement-20101124-01.uk.html">FSFE's statement on the project on "IP and competition policy" at WIPO CDIP/6 </a></b> (2010-11-24)<br> Statement to the 2010 <a href="http://www.wipo.int">WIPO</a> <a href="http://www.wipo.int/meetings/en/details.jsp?meeting_id=19688">6th session of the Committee on Development and Intellectual Property (CDIP)</a>, November 22, 2010 to November 26, 2010. </p></li> <li><p><b><a href="/activities/wipo/statement-20101124-02.uk.html">Written submission on the project on open collaborative projects, contained in document CDIP/6/6 at WIPO CDIP/6</a></b> (2010-11-24)<br> Written submission to the 2010 <a href="http://www.wipo.int">WIPO</a> <a href="http://www.wipo.int/meetings/en/details.jsp?meeting_id=19688">6th session of the Committee on Development and Intellectual Property (CDIP)</a>, November 22, 2010 to November 26, 2010. </p></li> <li><p><b><a href="/activities/wipo/statement-20101013.uk.html">FSFE's statement on the relation between standards and patents at WIPO SCP/15 </a></b> (2010-10-13)<br> Statement to the 2010 <a href="http://www.wipo.int">WIPO</a> <a href="http://www.wipo.int/meetings/en/details.jsp?meeting_id=17461">15th Standing Committee on the Law of Patents (SCP)</a>, 10-15 October 2010. (Note: Originally <a href="https://blogs.fsfe.org/gerloff/?p=405">published on the weblog</a> of FSFE president <a href="/about/people/gerloff/index.uk.html">Karsten Gerloff</a>) </p></li> <li><p><b><a href="/activities/wipo/statement-20100125-02.uk.html">FSFE's oral intervention to the SCP/14 on Oppositions systems</a></b> (2010-01-27)<br> Statement to the 2010 <a href="http://www.wipo.int">WIPO</a> <a href="http://www.wipo.int/meetings/en/details.jsp?meeting_id=17461">14th Standing Committee on the Law of Patents (SCP)</a>, 25-29 January 2010. (Note: Originally <a href="https://blogs.fsfe.org/gerloff/?p=299">published on the weblog</a> of FSFE president <a href="/about/people/gerloff/index.uk.html">Karsten Gerloff</a>) </p></li> <li><p><b><a href="/activities/wipo/statement-20100125-03.uk.html">FSFE's oral intervention to the SCP/14 on Free Software and technology transfer</a></b> (2010-01-27)<br> Statement to the 2010 <a href="http://www.wipo.int">WIPO</a> <a href="http://www.wipo.int/meetings/en/details.jsp?meeting_id=17461">14th Standing Committee on the Law of Patents (SCP)</a>, 25-29 January 2010. (Note: Originally <a href="https://blogs.fsfe.org/gerloff/?p=296">published on the weblog</a> of FSFE president <a href="/about/people/gerloff/index.uk.html">Karsten Gerloff</a>) </p></li> <li><p><b><a href="/activities/wipo/statement-20100125-01.uk.html">FSFE's oral intervention to the SCP/14 (Opening Statement)</a></b> (2010-01-25)<br> Statement to the 2010 <a href="http://www.wipo.int">WIPO</a> <a href="http://www.wipo.int/meetings/en/details.jsp?meeting_id=17461">14th Standing Committee on the Law of Patents (SCP)</a>, 25-29 January 2010. (Note: Originally <a href="https://blogs.fsfe.org/gerloff/?p=291">published on the weblog</a> of FSFE president <a href="/about/people/gerloff/index.uk.html">Karsten Gerloff</a>) </p></li> <li><p><b><a href="/activities/wipo/statement-20090501.uk.html">FSFE's written intervention to the CDIP/3 on ICTs and the Digital Divide</a></b> (2009-05-01)<br> Statement to the 2009 <a href="http://www.wipo.int">WIPO</a> <a href="http://www.wipo.int/meetings/en/details.jsp?meeting_id=17382">3rd Committee on Development and Intellectual Property (CDIP)</a>, 27 April - 1 May 2009. (Note: Originally <a href="https://blogs.fsfe.org/greve/?p=340">published on the weblog</a> of FSFE founder <a href="/about/people/greve/index.uk.html">Georg Greve</a>). </p></li> <li><p><b><a href="/activities/wipo/statement-20090430-01.uk.html">FSFE's written intervention to the CDIP/3</a></b> (2009-04-30)<br> Statement to the 2009 <a href="http://www.wipo.int">WIPO</a> <a href="http://www.wipo.int/meetings/en/details.jsp?meeting_id=17382">3rd Committee on Development and Intellectual Property (CDIP)</a>, 27 April - 1 May 2009. (Note: Originally <a href="https://blogs.fsfe.org/greve/?p=327">published on the weblog</a> of FSFE founder <a href="/about/people/greve/index.uk.html">Georg Greve</a>) </p></li> <li><p><b><a href="/activities/wipo/statement-20090430-02.uk.html">FSFE's oral intervention to the CDIP/3</a></b> (2009-04-30)<br> Statement to the 2009 <a href="http://www.wipo.int">WIPO</a> <a href="http://www.wipo.int/meetings/en/details.jsp?meeting_id=17382">3rd Committee on Development and Intellectual Property (CDIP)</a>, 27 April - 1 May 2009. (Note: Originally <a href="https://blogs.fsfe.org/greve/?p=333">published on the weblog</a> of FSFE founder <a href="/about/people/greve/index.uk.html">Georg Greve</a>) </p></li> <li><p><b><a href="/activities/wipo/statement-20090327.uk.html">FSFE's written intervention to the SCP/13 on future work</a></b> (2009-03-27)<br> Statement to the 2009 <a href="http://www.wipo.int">WIPO</a> <a href="http://www.wipo.int/meetings/en/details.jsp?meeting_id=17448">13th Standing Committee on the Law of Patents</a>, 23 March - 27 March 2009. (Note: Originally <a href="https://blogs.fsfe.org/greve/?p=292">published on the weblog</a> of FSFE founder <a href="/about/people/greve/index.uk.html">Georg Greve</a>) </p></li> <li><p><b><a href="/activities/wipo/statement-20090325.uk.html">FSFE's oral intervention to the SCP/13 on patents and standardisation</a></b> (2009-03-25)<br> Statement to the 2009 <a href="http://www.wipo.int">WIPO</a> <a href="http://www.wipo.int/meetings/en/details.jsp?meeting_id=17448">13th Standing Committee on the Law of Patents</a>, 23 March - 27 March 2009. (Note: Originally <a href="https://blogs.fsfe.org/greve/?p=277">published on the weblog</a> of FSFE founder <a href="/about/people/greve/index.uk.html">Georg Greve</a>) </p></li> <li><p><b><a href="/activities/wipo/statement-20090324.uk.html">FSFE's oral intervention to the SCP/13 on exceptions and limitations</a></b> (2009-03-24)<br> Statement to the 2009 <a href="http://www.wipo.int">WIPO</a> <a href="http://www.wipo.int/meetings/en/details.jsp?meeting_id=17448">13th Standing Committee on the Law of Patents</a>, 23 March - 27 March 2009. (Note: Originally <a href="https://blogs.fsfe.org/greve/?p=269">published on the weblog</a> of FSFE founder <a href="/about/people/greve/index.uk.html">Georg Greve</a>) </p></li> <li><p><b><a href="/activities/wipo/statement-20070928.uk.html">FSFE's written statement to the 2007 General Assembly</a></b> (2007-09-28)<br> Statement at the 2007 <a href="http://www.wipo.int/meetings/en/details.jsp?meeting_id=12803">Assemblies of the Member States of WIPO</a>, 24 September - 3 October 2007 </p></li> <li><p><b><a href="/activities/wipo/statement-20060628.en.html">WIPO statement</a></b> (2006-06-28)<br> Statement at the second <a href="http://www.wipo.int/meetings/en/details.jsp?meeting_id=9766" target="_blank">Provisional Committee on a Development Agenda (PCDA)</a> for WIPO </p></li> <li><p><b><a href="/activities/wipo/fser.en.html">Free Software Essentials Reference Sheet</a></b> (2006-06-28)<br> Handout prepared for the second <a href="http://www.wipo.int/meetings/en/details.jsp?meeting_id=9766" target="_blank">Provisional Committee on a Development Agenda (PCDA)</a> for WIPO </p></li> <li><p><b><a href="/activities/wipo/statement-20060223.en.html">WIPO statement</a></b> (2006-02-23)<br> Statement at the first <a href="http://www.wipo.int/meetings/en/details.jsp?meeting_id=9643" target="_blank">Provisional Committee on a Development Agenda (PCDA)</a> for WIPO </p></li> <li><p><b><a href="/activities/wipo/statement-20050930.uk.html">WIPO statement</a></b> (2005-09-30)<br> Statement of the Free Software Foundation Europe and the Free Software Foundation Latin America towards the 2005 WIPO general assemblies </p></li> <li><p><b><a href="/activities/wipo/statement-20050721.uk.html">WIPO statement</a></b> (2005-07-21)<br> Statement on behalf of the <a href="/activities/wsis/index.uk.html">WSIS</a> <a href="http://www.wsis-pct.org">Patents, Copyrights and Trademarks (PCT) Working Group</a> of Civil Society at the third <a href="http://www.wipo.int/meetings/en/details.jsp?meeting_id=8487" target="_blank">Inter-Sessional, Inter-Governmental Meeting (IIM) on a Development Agenda</a> </p></li> <li><p><b><a href="/activities/wipo/statement-20050620.uk.html">WIPO statement</a></b> (2005-06-20)<br> Statement at the second <a href="http://www.wipo.int/meetings/en/details.jsp?meeting_id=8486" target="_blank">Inter-Sessional, Inter-Governmental Meeting (IIM) on a Development Agenda</a> </p></li> <li><p><b><a href="/activities/wipo/statement-20050415.uk.html">WIPO statement</a></b> (2005-04-15)<br> Statement at the <a href="http://www.wipo.int/meetings/en/details.jsp?meeting_id=7524" target="_blank">Permanent Committee on Cooperation for Development related to Intellectual Property (PCIPD)</a> </p></li> <li><p><b><a href="/activities/wipo/statement-20050413.uk.html">WIPO statement</a></b> (2005-04-13)<br> Statement at the <a href="http://www.wipo.int/meetings/en/details.jsp?meeting_id=7522" target="_blank">Inter-Sessional, Inter-Governmental Meeting (IIM) on a Development Agenda</a> </p></li> <li><p><b><a href="/activities/wipo/wiwo.uk.html">Towards a "World Intellectual Wealth Organisation"</a></b> (2004-10-14)<br> Supporting the Geneva Declaration </p></li> <li><p><b><a href="/activities/wipo/iprip.uk.html">On "Intellectual Property" and Indigenous Peoples</a></b> (2004-02-09)<br> An essay by <a href="/about/people/greve/index.uk.html">Georg Greve</a> about questions raised for Indigenous Peoples by the "intellectual property" ideology </p></li> </ul> <h3 id="id-related">Related</h3> <ul> <li>Free Software Foundation Europe supports the <a href="http://www.ipjustice.org/WIPO/NGO_Statement.shtml">Development Agenda -- IIM/3 NGO Statement</a> for the third <a href="http://www.wipo.int/meetings/en/details.jsp?meeting_id=8487" target="_blank">Inter-Sessional, Inter-Governmental Meeting (IIM) on a Development Agenda</a>, 20 July 2005</li> <li>Statement in Support of the Geneva Declaration: <a href="/activities/wipo/wiwo.uk.html">Towards a 'World Intellectual Wealth Organisation'</a> </li> </ul> <ul> <li>Article: <a href="/freesoftware/standards/ps.uk.html">Analysis on balance: Standardisation and Patents</a> </li> <li>Article: <a href="/activities/wsis/issues.uk.html">Fighting intellectual poverty</a> </li> <li>Article: <a href="/activities/wipo/iprip.uk.html">On 'Intellectual Property' and Indigenous Peoples</a> </li> </ul> <ul> <li>Project page: <a href="/activities/wsis/index.uk.html">World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS)</a> </li> <li>Project page: <a href="/activities/swpat/index.uk.html">Software Patents</a> </li> <li>Project page: <a href="/activities/eucd/index.uk.html">European Copyright Directive (EUCD)</a> </li> </ul> </div></main><aside id="followup" class="subscribe-nl"><h2>Subscribe to our email updates</h2> <p>Our experts inform you about current news, events, activities, and how you can contribute.<span style="font-size:0.8em"> (<a href="/about/legal/imprint.uk.html#id-privacy-policy"><span style="color:white; text-decoration: underline;">Privacy Policy</span></a>) </span></p> <form class="form-inline" id="formnl" name="formnl" method="POST" action="https://my.fsfe.org/subscribe"> <input type="hidden" name="language" value="en"><input type="input" style="display: none !important" name="password" tabindex="-1" autocomplete="off"><input id="yourname" name="name" type="text" required="required" placeholder="Your Name"><input id="email" name="email1" type="email" required="required" placeholder="Email Address"><fsfe-cd-referrer-input></fsfe-cd-referrer-input><input type="hidden" name="wants_info" value="yes"><input type="hidden" name="wants_newsletter_info" value="yes"><input type="hidden" name="category" value="i"><input id="submit" type="submit" value="Subscribe"> </form></aside><nav id="direct-to-top"><a href="#top">Go to the top</a></nav><footer><div id="page-info"> <div> <p class="share-buttons footer"><a href="https://mastodon.social/@fsfe"><img src="/graphics/services/mastodon.png" alt="Mastodon" title="Mastodon"></a><a href="https://media.fsfe.org/a/fsfe/videos"><img src="/graphics/services/peertube.png" alt="Peertube" title="Peertube"></a></p> <p>Copyright © 2001-2025 <a href="/index.uk.html">Free Software Foundation Europe</a>.</p> <p> Verbatim copying and distribution of this entire article is permitted in any medium, provided this notice is preserved. </p> </div> <div> <p><a href="/about/contact.uk.html">Contact us</a></p> <p><a href="/about/jobs/index.uk.html">Jobs</a></p> <p><a href="/about/legal/imprint.uk.html">Imprint</a> / <a href="/about/legal/imprint.uk.html#id-privacy-policy">Privacy Policy</a> / <a href="/about/transparency-commitment.uk.html">Transparency Commitment</a></p> <p> FSFE has <a href="/about/fsfnetwork.uk.html">sister organisations</a> in <a href="//www.fsf.org/">North America</a>, <a href="http://fsf.org.in/">India</a> and <a href="http://www.fsfla.org/">Latin America</a>. </p> </div> <div> <p><a rel="nofollow" href="https://git.fsfe.org/FSFE/fsfe-website/src/branch/master/fsfe.org/activities/wipo/wipo.en.xhtml">Source code</a></p> <p><a href="/contribute/web/web.uk.html">Contribute to the Web team</a></p> <p><a href="/contribute/translators/translators.uk.html">Translate this page?</a></p> <p></p> <p><a href="/about/js-licences.uk.html" data-jslicense="1">JavaScript Licences</a></p> </div> </div></footer><script src="/scripts/bootstrap-3.0.3.custom.js"></script> </body> </html>