In accordance with the decisions by the Governing Bodies of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) made at their twenty-eighth series of meetings (May 1996) and following preparations carried out by WIPO, the Diplomatic Conference on Certain Copyright and Neighboring Rights Questions was convened by WIPO and held in Geneva from December 2 to 20, 1996.

The Diplomatic Conference adopted the WIPO Copyright Treaty and the WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty which were opened for signature on December 20, 1996.