Committee on WIPO Standards (CWS)

The CWS was created in 2009 to serve as a forum to adopt new or revised WIPO Standards, policies, recommendations and statements of principle relating to intellectual property data, global information system related matters, information services on the global system, data dissemination and documentation.

Participation in the CWS is open to all member states of WIPO, the Paris Union and/or the Berne Union.  The Organizational Matters and Special Rules of Procedure of the CWS extends membership without the right to vote to the African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI), the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO), the Benelux Office for Intellectual Property (BOIP), the Eurasian Patent Organization (EAPO), the European Patent Organization (EPO), the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV), the Nordic Patent Institute (NPI), the Patent Office of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC), the Visegrad Patent Institute (VPI) and the European Union.  In addition, member states of the United Nations that are not members of WIPO, the Paris Union or the Berne Union, intergovernmental organizations, and non-governmental organizations accredited with observer status at WIPO may participate in the Committee in an observer capacity.

The activities of the CWS under the work program are reported to the WIPO General Assembly.  The Committee may also submit its recommendations to the General Assembly for consideration or approval.