WIPO Academy - [DL] Distance Learning Program

This course covers the fundamental aspects of intellectual property (IP): copyright and related rights, trademarks, patents, geographical indications, and industrial designs. It also covers contemporary issues impacting the IP field such as: new plant varieties, unfair competition, enforcement of IP rights and emerging issues in IP.

The content and methodology of all “General Primer” courses are structured to complement self-directed learning. As such, participants are able to review course material at their own pace.

Curriculum

The DL-001 course is comprised of twelve modules designed to facilitate the sequential expansion and assimilation of general IP concepts:

Final Exam and Certificate

There is no final exam or certificate at the end of this course.
Self-assessment tools are strategically placed throughout each module to assist participants with gauging their respective levels of knowledge and progress, as well as their ability to apply the concepts and facts presented within the course.

Eligibility

This course is open to all individuals seeking to obtain a general overview of the fundamentals of IP.

This course builds on the concepts presented in DL-001 - Intellectual Property Primer. It provides a more in-depth view of the fundamentals of IP law, and is considered as indispensable to pursue more advanced courses of study on specific areas of IP law.

Curriculum

The DL-101 course is comprised of the following modules and final exam:

Self-assessment tools are strategically placed throughout each module to assist participants with gauging their respective levels of knowledge and progress, as well as their ability to apply the concepts and facts presented within the course.

Academic support is provided throughout each module by experienced tutors who are expert practitioners in the field of IP.

Final Exam and Certificate

The final exam for this course is comprised of a series of multiple choice questions. A fixed amount of time is allocated for participants to complete and submit the exam on-line. Participants are contacted regarding modalities for accessing the final exam approximately one week prior to the deadline for completion of the DL-101 course.

Participants who pass the DL-101 final exam are awarded an electronic certificate of course completion.

Eligibility

This course is open to individuals who are/will be employed in the field of administration of intellectual property rights; those seeking general knowledge of IP; and those who generate various forms of IP and seek a deeper understanding of the effective management and protection of IPRs.

The e-tutorial is an interactive learning tool covering the foundations of patent documentation, patent search strategies, and patent analysis and its numerous uses.  It includes tutorials, scenarios, and exercises to allow learners to expand and test their knowledge.
 
The e-tutorial is designed for a range of learners, from beginner to advanced and is offered through self-directed study and includes tests that allow each participant to gauge their knowledge and understanding at various points in the tutorial.

The e-tutorial can be useful for individuals, or to support group training for users with competency levels ranging from basic to intermediate, including students and researchers, small and medium business entrepreneurs, and policy makers.  It will also complement onsite training given within the framework of the WIPO Technology and Innovation Support Center (TISC) program.
 
There is no final examination for this course.  Self-evaluation tools are strategically incorporated throughout the tutorial to help participants to gauge their level of knowledge and test their ability to apply concepts and key facts taught during the tutorial.
 
Participants can work through the tutorial at a pace that suits them. It is estimated that the tutorial can be reviewed in approximately eight hours.
 
It is recommended that participants take the DL-177 tutorial prior to taking the DL-318 Patent Information Search course.
 

Teachers, educators and curricula setters can enroll to access the curricula, methodology, and teaching content provided by the WIPO Academy. It is designed for individuals already playing a role in schools, training institutions, IP offices, ministries of education, teachers associations, regional and international educational bodies.

The Distance Learning (DL) Phase of the Program covers 4 themes addressing:

1. existing IP teaching challenges and opportunities in schools;
2. the main domains of IP under the General Course on IP (DL-101);
3. how to teach innovation and creativity through IP using interactive content on Copyright, Patents and Trademarks, and
4. a competency in either developing new lesson plans, customizing the WIPO Academy IP4Youth content, or creating a draft business case.

Selected participants will also complete a face-to-face training seminar under theme 5 covering the developing of learning outcomes relevant to innovation, creativity, and IP.

Academic support is provided throughout each theme by experienced coaches and IP experts.

Copyright

• Identification of learning objectives for the lesson on copyright
• Outline of the copyright lesson plan
• Gamified lesson on copyright (30 minutes)
• Teachers' tools for the copyright lesson (180 minutes)
• Copyright case study on a 15 year old fantasy writer whose novels are read by millions of people worldwide.
• Copyright student activities
• Copyright lesson assessment
• Teachers notes

Patents

• Identification of learning objectives for the lesson on patents
• Outline of the patents lesson plan
• Gamified lesson on patents (30 minutes)
• Teachers' tools for the patents lesson (180 minutes)
• Patents case study on the inventor of the Braille code for the blind.
• Patents student activities
• Patents lesson assessment
• Teachers notes

Trademarks

• Identification of learning objectives for the lesson on trademarks
• Outline of the trademarks lesson plan
• Gamified lesson on trademarks (30 minutes)
• Teachers' tools for the trademarks lesson (180 minutes)
• Trademarks case study on the Doctors without Borders (MSF) logo.
• Trademarks student activities
• Trademarks lesson assessment
• Teachers notes

The IP Panorama 2.0 course aims to provide learners with a comprehensive foundation in the utilization of IP for entrepreneurship and business. Through the use of real-world case examples, IP Panorama 2.0 raises awareness of the benefits of using the IP system for business while providing practical guidance and a framework for how to do so. With newly designed, interactive, micro-learning content participants can more easily access and assimilate bite-sized chunks of learning material. 

Developed by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO), and the Korea Invention Promotion Association (KIPA), IP Panorama 2.0 is an updated version of the original IP Panorama program which was released in 2007.

The content comprises 8 modules:

• Module 1: The Role of IP
• Module 2: IP and IPR as Tools in Utilization
• Module 3: Different Forms of IP and IPRs
• Module 4: How to Ensure your Business is e-Savvy
• Module 5: IP Strategy
• Module 6: IP Audit
• Module 7: IP Infringement
• Module 8: IP Utilization

Eligibility

This course is open to all individuals, particularly in the enterprise sector and university students, seeking to increase their awareness of using IP for business success.

This course is open to anyone with an interest in how to utilize IP for business, particularly:

• Senior students in business administration and entrepreneurship (searching for knowledge and skills in the use of IP for entrepreneurship and business administration)
• Young professionals
• Entrepreneurs
• Business owners (of both SMEs and large firms)

The DL101PCT course provides an introduction and general overview of the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), an international system that facilitates the acquisition of patents on a global scale.
 
The course was developed by WIPO specialists on the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), using the pedagogical and distance learning methodology of the WIPO Academy. Self-assessment tools are strategically placed throughout the course to measure your understanding and progress. In addition to the course material, links to specific reference documents are provided, such as legal texts and other official WIPO documents.
 
The content and methodology of all “General Primer” courses are structured to complement self-directed learning.  As such, participants are able to review course material at their own pace.

Curriculum

The DL101PCT course is comprised of fourteen modules:

Final Exam and Certificate

This course is entirely self-study. An electronic certificate may be generated upon successful completion of the course quizzes.

Eligibility

This course is open to any individual wishing to obtain a general understanding of the PCT system.

The advanced level course explains the fundamental principles of international copyright and related rights protection, including a comprehensive overview of the international treaties, and recent developments and trends in the area of international copyright. This course also describes the system of collective management of rights and deals with issues of copyright and related rights in the digital environment. It also covers the role of WIPO in the worldwide protection of copyright.

Curriculum

The course consists of 13 substantive modules and a final exam.

Academic support is provided throughout each module by experienced tutors who are expert practitioners in the field of intellectual property.

Final Exam and Certificate

There is a written final exam at the end of this course for which participants are required to compose written responses to a series of questions within a specified timeframe and submit their responses, via the eLearning platform, to their tutors for marking. Participants are individually contacted regarding modalities for accessing the final exam approximately one week prior to the deadline for completion of the DL-201 course.

Participants who pass the DL-201 final exam are awarded a certificate of completion for the course.

Eligibility

This course is open to legal practitioners, managers in copyright offices and staff in collective management societies, broadcasting organizations or publishing industries, academics and university students with a prior knowledge of IP such as those who have successfully completed DL-101.

This course aims to provide technical information on key concepts and international, regional and national experiences, policy options and legal mechanisms available or under consideration for the intellectual property protection of traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions.  It is hoped that the course will strengthen capacity and stimulate consideration of these issues, share experiences and advance understanding of the range of issues and possible options in this area, in which legal and policy developments are still evolving at national, regional and international levels. 

Curriculum

The course consists of 4 substantive modules and a final exam.

• Module 1: Overview and Key Concepts

• Module 2: Options for the IP Protection of TK and TCEs

• Module 3: Protecting TK and TCEs with Existing and Adapted IP Rights

• Module 4: Protecting TK and TCEs with a Sui Generis System of Protection

• Final Exam

Academic support is provided throughout each module by experienced tutors who are expert practitioners in the field of intellectual property.

Final Exam and Certificate

There is a written final exam at the end of this course for which participants are required to compose written responses to a series of questions within a specified timeframe and submit their responses, via the e-learning platform, to their tutors for marking. Participants are individually contacted regarding modalities for accessing the final exam approximately one week prior to the deadline for completion of the DL-203 course.

Participants who pass the DL-203 final exam are awarded a certificate of completion for the course.

Eligibility

This course is addressed to officials of IP Offices, government officials from other departments, policy makers, diplomats, members of indigenous and local communities, employees of non-governmental organizations and intergovernmental organizations, lawyers, academics, researchers, students and individuals who already possess a working knowledge of the IP system. As the course covers the relationship between IP, TK and traditional cultural expressions, participants who are already familiar with the IP system, may be able to benefit the most from it. For those who are not, it is recommended that they complete the WIPO Academy’s “Primer on Intellectual Property” DL-001 or the “General Course on Intellectual Property” DL-101.

This course aims to provide participants with an in-depth perspective on the principles and economic impact of patents and the patenting process as a whole. The course incorporates examination of the traditional use of patents by centers of knowledge such as universities and other specialized institutions of higher learning. It also provides students with a comprehensive review of the importance of Patent Pools in facilitating the effective transfer and development of technology.

Curriculum

The course comprises 8 substantive modules and a final exam:

Academic support is provided throughout each module by experienced tutors who are expert practitioners in the field of intellectual property (IP).

Final Exam and Certificate

There is a written final exam at the end of this course for which participants are required to compose written responses to a series of questions within a specified timeframe and submit their responses, via the eLearning platform, to their tutors for marking. Participants are individually contacted regarding modalities for accessing the final exam approximately one week prior to the deadline for completion of the DL-301 course.

Participants who pass the DL-301 final exam are awarded a certificate of completion for the course.

Eligibility

This course is designed for persons already possessing sound knowledge of the fundamentals of IP.  It is open to legal practitioners, employees of IP offices, individuals involved in research and development and university students.  Given the advanced nature of the course, prospective participants wishing to undertake this course who do not possess solid knowledge of the fundamentals of IP are advised to complete the General Course on Intellectual Property (DL-101), prior to attempting DL-301.

This advanced course is intended to provide training material online to cover intellectual property aspects which are closely related to trade and competition in the globalized market. Additionally, the course is intended to educate and raise awareness of some of the complex issues that surround the protection and management of intellectual property for branding.

This course is a preparatory course designed to precede practical training as regards protection of trademarks, industrial designs and geographical indications.

Curriculum

The course comprises 7 substantive modules and a written final exam:

Academic support is provided throughout each module by experienced tutors who are expert practitioners in the field of IP.

Final Exam and Certificate

There is a written final exam at the end of this course for which participants are required to compose written responses to a series of questions within a specified timeframe and submit their responses, via the eLearning platform, to their tutors for marking. Participants are individually contacted regarding modalities for accessing the final exam approximately one week prior to the deadline for completion of the DL-302 course.

Participants who pass the DL-302 final exam are awarded a certificate of completion for the course.

Eligibility

Subscribers should have a general interest in making the best use of IP in marketing and managing intangible assets of the private company. The course targets staff in IP offices and research and development institutions, legal practitioners and university students with knowledge of IP. It is highly recommended that participants who do not have knowledge in IP take the General Course on IP (DL-101).

The Madrid System for the International Registration of Marks is a convenient and cost-effective solution for registering and managing trademarks worldwide. The purpose of this course is to give you an overview of the System and explore its benefits, principles and operations.

Curriculum 
This specialized course consists of the following topics and a final assessment:

• Introduction to the Madrid System
• Overview of the accession process
• Role of the Office of origin
• Role of the Office of a designated Contracting Party
• Communication with WIPO and online tools and services
• Post registration management

Final Assessment and Certificate 
The final assessment for this course is comprised of a series of multiple-choice questions. If you pass the assessment, you will be eligible to receive a certificate awarded by the WIPO Academy.
 
Eligibility 
The target audiences for this course are:

• Government officials and IP office staff member states of the Madrid System.
• Anyone interested in trademark registration, i.e. trademark owners, agents, other IP professionals, as well as academics and students. 

 
Recommended Prior Knowledge 
This course is open to any individual wishing to obtain a general understanding of the Madrid System. A basic knowledge of intellectual property and trademark rights is recommended.
 

This is an intermediate-level specialized course that provides participants with a comprehensive understanding of the main features and advantages of the procedures designed by the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center. It gives participants an in-depth knowledge of how to identify the most appropriate dispute resolution procedure for particular cases and insert the most appropriate dispute resolution clauses into agreements.

Curriculum

The course consists of four substantive modules and a final exam:

Academic support is provided throughout each module by experienced tutors who are expert practitioners in the field of intellectual property (IP).

Final Exam and Certificate

There is a written final exam at the end of this course for which participants are required to compose written responses to a series of questions within a specified timeframe and submit their responses, via the eLearning platform, to their tutors for marking. Participants are individually contacted regarding modalities for accessing the final exam approximately one week prior to the deadline for completion of the DL-317 course.

Participants who pass the DL-317 final exam are awarded a certificate of completion for the course.

Eligibility

This course is designed for individuals who already possess a working knowledge of the fundamental concepts of IP law. It is a useful tool for persons who generate and/or seek to protect various forms of IP and wish to gain a more comprehensive understanding of dispute settlement procedure under the WIPO Rules.

It is strongly recommended that registrants are functionally knowledgeable in IP or have already passed the General Course on IP (DL-101).

The intention of this distance learning course relating to patent information searching is to introduce you to, and illustrate the concepts, of searching patent information. Practical activities have been incorporated throughout the course to complement theoretical principles that underpin patent information searching. Course participants are also furnished with in-depth information regarding sources, techniques and data used during patent searches.

Curriculum

The course consists of eight substantive modules and a written final exam.

Academic support is provided throughout each module by experienced tutors who are expert practitioners in the field of intellectual property (IP).

Final Exam and Certificate

There is a written final exam at the end of this course for which participants are required to compose written responses to a series of questions within a specified timeframe and submit their responses, via the eLearning platform, to their tutors for marking. Participants are individually contacted regarding modalities for accessing the final exam approximately one week prior to the deadline for completion of the DL-318 course.

Participants who pass the DL-318 final exam are awarded a certificate of completion for the course.

Eligibility

The course targets staff in IP offices and research and development institutions, legal practitioners and university students with knowledge of IP. It is highly recommended that participants who do not have knowledge of IP take the General Course on IP (DL-101) and Patents (DL-301) prior to enrolling.

 

The intention of this advanced distance learning course on the basics of patent drafting is to introduce you to, and illustrate the concepts, of patent drafting. It is neither a qualification course for patent drafting, nor a replacement of existing training manuals for patent attorneys or patent agents in countries in which robust systems for professional education in the area of patent practices exist. Some practical exercises are proposed with enough background and description to help you gain confidence to form a credible set of claims.

The course material has been designed on the basis of common denominators of several national patent laws in which most applicants seek patent protection.

Curriculum

The course consists of four substantive modules:

Academic support is provided throughout each module by experienced tutors who are expert practitioners in the field of intellectual property (IP).

Final Exam and Certificate

There is a written exam at the end of this course for which participants are required to answer a set of multiple choice questions and compose written responses to a series of questions within a specified timeframe and submit their responses, via the eLearning platform, to their tutors for marking. Participants are individually contacted regarding modalities for accessing the final exam approximately one week prior to the deadline for completion of the DL-320 course.

Participants who pass the DL-320 final exam are awarded a certificate of completion for the course. 

Eligibility

This advanced course is predominantly designed for inventors, scientists, engineers and others engaged in technical endeavors.  Registrants are expected to have a solid working knowledge of the fundamentals of IP. 

Prospective participants who do not possess basic knowledge in IP are strongly advised to complete the General Course on IP (DL-101), prior to enrolling for this course.

Session with Special Focus on GRs and Data

This executive-level course serves as an introduction to strategic rights management in the commercialization of IP and genetic resources and data, and lays the foundation for advanced WIPO training and use of WIPO’s services on IP management for genetic resources and data in the life sciences.
 
Currently offered in English, the course will help executives of life science enterprises and innovators align their IP strategies and business models and to bring related innovations to the market. It also informs policymakers of latest trends and technologies that facilitate the evolution of modern IP-based life science innovation ecosystems.

Curriculum
The course consists of 5 substantive modules and a final exam.

• Module 1: Introduction to Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources in the Life Sciences
• Module 2: Branches of IP and policy relevant to the use of GRs in Life Sciences
• Module 3: Emerging Issues in GRs Law and Policy and Related Technologies
• Module 4: Relevant Legal Instruments and International Policy Processes on IP and GRs in Life Sciences
• Module 5: Practical IP issues on Genetic Resources in the life sciences

Final Exam and Certificate
 
There is a written final exam at the end of this course for which participants are required to compose written responses to a series of questions within a specified timeframe and submit their responses, via the e-learning platform, to their tutors for marking. Participants are individually contacted regarding modalities for accessing the final exam approximately one week prior to the deadline for completion of the course.
 
Participants who pass the DL-427 final exam are awarded a certificate of completion for the course.
 
Eligibility 
 
The course is designed for :

• Executives of stakeholders and enterprises in the field of IP and Genetic Resources (such as companies, universities, research institutions, gene banks, biobanks, culture collections);
• Policy makers/ advocates in the field of IP and Genetic Resources;
• Innovators and researchers in the field of life sciences;
• Members of the public wishing to introduce themselves to in the field of IP and Genetic Resources.

Intellectual Property (IP) is a key tool that facilitates both the protection and commercialization of goods and services at national, regional and international level. The Distance Learning (DL) course, DL-730 on IP and Exports adopts a practical, skills-focused methodology to address the common challenges and issues that are faced by exporters and export agency workers in everyday practice.
 
In seeking to raise awareness of the importance of IP to the exporting process as a whole, DL-730 examines the IP and export-related issues that arise in the specific national regulatory environments for business, trade and foreign direct investment within the Latin American and Caribbean region. The course draws on real-world, situational, case examples from Brazil, Colombia and Mexico, to attune learners to the practical cross-border and transnational considerations which they must give regard to when seeking to protect their IP-reliant products and services.
 
Throughout the course, participants will work toward building a practical checklist of activities that is customized to their own individual export environment.

Curriculum
 
This skills-focused course is comprised of 6 modules and a final assessment:

• Module 1: Introduction and problem-setting: IP & trade – real-world case examples and issues;
• Module 2: Obtaining rights abroad;
• Module 3: Licensing and sale of licensed products and services;
• Module 4: Foreign direct investment (FDI) as an alternative way to export knowledge, goods and services;
• Module 5: Review of national case studies and their best respective solutions;
• Module 6: Practical checklist for exporters and export agency workers.

Academic support is provided throughout each module by experienced tutors who are expert practitioners in the field of intellectual property.
 

This program provides comprehensive training on the drafting of patent applications to persons with professional and commercial interest in patents, and those who are looking to enhance their patent drafting skills across different technical fields. Designed as practice-oriented training, inventors and those providing services to them can acquire technical skills and knowledge necessary to prepare and file successful patent applications, including the capacity to draft all-important claims that determine the scope and coverage of the protection to be granted by a patent.
 
The training program will utilize state of the art WIPO e-Learning tools, while also giving unparalleled access to patent drafting experts virtually, through the use of online discussion forums, mentoring and in-person, through workshops conducted at WIPO Headquarters, in Geneva (Switzerland).

The training program is composed of three (3) phases:
 
Phase 1: Drafting Basics

• Fundamentals of drafting claims and the specification through facilitated discussions and exercises

Phase 2: Geneva Workshop

• Focused on improving technology-relevant patent drafting skills and practices of different jurisdictions
• Due to the prevailing public health and international travel situation, it may be necessary to conduct the in-person seminar either entirely, or partially online.

Phase 3: Mentoring

• Advanced patent drafting exercises in the participants’ field of expertis

Evaluations and Certificate
There is an Evaluation to test the patent drafting skills of participants at the end of Phase 3 via the WIPO’s online Learning Management System. Participants who successfully complete Phases 1, 2 and 3 of the training program, and pass the Evaluations scheduled at the end of the training program  will be awarded a WIPO Certificate.

Eligibility
Applicants must have:

1. Minimum 2 years of university level education; in law, and/ or in science and technology such as, engineering, life sciences, medicine, physics, chemistry, communication sciences or biotechnology; or at least 1 year of professional/ work or research experience in a field relevant to patent drafting/ patent prosecution.
2. General knowledge of IP and patents, at least equivalent to the WIPO Academy Distance Learning course DL301 - Advanced Course on Patents;
3. Proficiency in written and spoken English, i.e. minimum 2 years of university level education or higher in English, or TOEFL iBT 80/120 or IELTS 6.5/9 scores in the last three (3) years.

Registrations

Eligible persons must submit an online application. A limited number of applicants will be selected by WIPO and be invited to participate in the course. Information on registration periods and application process will be available at https://welc.wipo.int/ipdtp/