WIPO's Legal Database Goes Live on the Internet
Geneva, September 16, 1999
Press Updates UPD/1999/69
WIPO'S LEGAL DATABASE GOES LIVE ON THE INTERNET
A major collection of intellectual property laws from a wide range of countries was launched on the Internet by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) on September 15, 1999. This Collection of Laws for Electronic Access (CLEA) database is a unique international electronic archive of intellectual property legislation. Delivered over the Internet in English, French and Spanish, this powerful, new information resource may be accessed by researchers, legal professionals, policy-makers and administrators across the globe via https://www.wipo.int/clea/en/.
The database currently contains the full text of intellectual property legislation of 35 countries and the European Communities, as well as the full text of all treaties administered by WIPO. Each of the legislative texts and treaties is preceded by a detailed bibliographic data entry which includes details such as publication dates, entry into force, related texts and language availability. A series of indexes and hyperlinks ensure that users are able to identify, access and display the desired text with great ease. The CLEA database is a "work in progress", it will be continuously expanded and upgraded to provide users with a fully comprehensive research tool. The CLEA will complement the existing paper-based collection maintained by WIPO and will enhance its usefulness by providing ready access, via the Internet, to regularly updated information on the intellectual property legislation of member States.
The texts contained in this electronic collection have been transmitted to WIPO by the intellectual property offices of the countries concerned. Member States of the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property and the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works are required to communicate all new legislative texts concerning the protection of industrial property and copyright to WIPO. Similarly, members of the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS Agreement) are also required to communicate such texts to the TRIPS Council.
For further information, please contact Mr. Alfredo Ilardi, Head of the Collection of Laws Section,
- Tel: (+41 22) 338 91 27;
- Fax: (+41 22) 338 80 50;
- E-mail: alfredo.ilardi@wipo.int.