Washington, D.C. and Geneva, Switzerland. IIPI became an official observer at the World Intellectual Property Institute (WIPO) by vote of the General Assembly. WIPO is a specialized agency of the United Nations dedicated to developing a balanced and accessible international intellectual property system. IIPI shares with WIPO the conviction that a balanced international IP system rewards creativity, stimulates innovation and contributes to economic development while safeguarding the public interest. Intellectual property is a valuable resource derived from the creative and innovative talents of people and communities regardless of where they live. IP is an important tool for the economic, social and cultural development of all countries.
WIPO was established by the WIPO Convention in 1967 with a mandate from its Member States to promote the protection of IP throughout the world through cooperation among states and in collaboration with other international organizations. Its headquarters are in Geneva, Switzerland.