Global economic and cultural progress is enabled by innovation and creativity. Around the world, WIPO's Award program recognizes innovators, creators, enterprises, individuals, and others that use the intellectual property (IP)-backed innovation and creativity to build a better future for us all.
The WIPO Awards Program includes both global and national awards.
WIPO Global Awards celebrate exceptional enterprises and individuals around the world that use IP-backed innovation and creativity in an exceptional manner to achieve business goals and improve society.
WIPO National Awards acknowledge those that are awarded through contests organized by governmental institutions and other institutions in WIPO Member States.
There are five categories for the WIPO National Awards: (1) Inventors, (2) Creativity, (3) Enterprises, (4) Schoolchildren, and (5) WIPO Users.
Various fraudulent schemes implying association with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) including fake offers of employment at WIPO, training courses and e-mail prize awards have been detected.
These use not only e-mails but also fake web-sites, faxes and telephone numbers. Some of them even include the name of the Director General of WIPO and names of WIPO staff. Many request detailed information and/or money, in connection with supposed registration fees, hotel reservations, employment opportunities, prizes or awards. They sometimes carry the WIPO logo, a photograph of the WIPO Director General and originate from, or refer to, e-mail addresses that resemble those of WIPO or the United Nations.
These are scams. Recipients are warned not to send any money or any personal or professional information, including bank account details, in response to them.
With regard to employment opportunities, it should be noted that WIPO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview, processing, training before appointment or any other fees). Any requests for such payment or information should be refused and reported to local law enforcement authorities for appropriate action and to WIPO for its information. In case of any doubt, WIPO's Human Resources Management Department should be contacted directly at +41 22 338 91 11.
WIPO would appreciate your help in bringing suspect communications to its attention so that others can be warned. Contact us.
Other Scam Warnings
Requests for payment of fees that do not come from the International Bureau of WIPO.