Search WIPO Publications

Incentives in Technology Transfer
A guide to encourage, recognize and reward researchers and professionals
The “Incentives in Technology Transfer” Guide offers valuable insights on incentivizing academic researchers and technology transfer professionals to actively participate in technology transfer activities and research commercialization. Drawing from successful global examples, the Guide explores motivations, challenges, and diverse incentives. The Guide also provides recommendations for universities and governments in formulating incentive schemes, an action plan for the planning process, and a questionnaire template for a better understanding of stakeholders, with the aim of optimizing incentive programs and improving technology transfer effectiveness.
Publication year: 2024
Generative AI: Navigating intellectual property
Generative AI: Navigating intellectual property outlines guiding principles and provides a checklist to assist organizations to understand the IP risks, ask the right questions and consider potential safeguards when adopting generative AI tools in their business.
Publication year: 2024
Getting the innovation ecosystem ready for AI
An IP policy toolkit
As AI technologies evolve at an exponential pace there are many questions and challenges for IP and the IP system. The purpose of this IP policy toolkit is to provide policymakers with a framework to understand the state of play of AI innovation right now and to think about the future as AI becomes increasingly autonomous.
Publication year: 2024
Country Perspectives: Luxembourg's Journey
Luxembourg's Journey in the “Unlocking IP-backed Financing Series” explores both current practices and the untapped potential of the SME ecosystem within Luxembourg. In particular, the report focuses on support for intellectual property (IP)-intensive companies. This report comes at a time when IP is increasingly attracting interest from rights holders, businesses, consumers and the general public.
Publication year: 2024
Country Perspectives China's Journey
China's Journey in the “Unlocking IP-backed Financing Series” provides an overview of the experiences of IP financial services by outlining the history, development, and practices so that China can better cooperate with countries in related fields and by jointly addressing the challenges faced by IP financial services.
Publication year: 2024
Hague System Information Kit
Secure protection for up to 100 designs, in over 90 countries, through one international application.
An overview of the Hague System with legal and procedural information for securing protection of your designs in more than 90 countries through one online application.
Publication year: 2023
Guide to the Madrid System International Registration of Marks under the Madrid Protocol
This Guide is primarily intended for applicants for, and holders of, international registrations of marks, as well as officials of the competent administrations of the members of the Madrid Union. It covers the various steps of the international registration procedure and explains the essential provisions of the Protocol Relating to the Madrid Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Marks and the Regulations under the Protocol.
Publication year: 2024
Green Technology Book
Solutions for climate change mitigation
WIPO's second edition of the Green Technology Book illustrates how innovation, technology and intellectual property are at the forefront of climate change mitigation. This edition focuses on cities, agriculture and land use, and industry showcasing the diversity of developed and emerging technologies and solutions that aim to mitigate climate change.
Publication year: 2023
Documentation of Traditional Knowledge and Traditional Cultural Expressions
Background Brief - No. 9
This Brief describes the main objectives of documenting traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions, the intellectual property issues that may arise and options for addressing them.
Publication year: 2023
Alternative Dispute Resolution for Disputes Related to Intellectual Property and Traditional Knowledge, Traditional Cultural Expressions and Genetic Resources
Background Brief - No. 8
This Brief introduces how alternative dispute resolution offers an alternative to formal court-based systems for tackling intellectual property disputes that may arise in relation to traditional knowledge, traditional cultural expressions and genetic resources.
Publication year: 2023
Customary Law and Traditional Knowledge
Background Brief - No. 7
This Brief explores the issues concerning customary law, traditional knowledge and intellectual property.
Publication year: 2023
Intellectual Property and Traditional Medical Knowledge
Background Brief - No. 6
This Brief introduces different options on intellectual property protection of traditional medical knowledge.
Publication year: 2023
Intellectual Property and Traditional Handicrafts
Background Brief - No. 5
This Brief identifies practical, accessible and often community-based means of using the existing intellectual property system for the effective recognition, protection, management, marketing and commercialization of traditional handicrafts.
Publication year: 2023
Intellectual Property and Arts Festivals
Background Brief - No. 4
This Brief introduces intellectual property consideration for arts festival organizers, to safeguard and promote their own interests and those of festival participants.
Publication year: 2023
Developing a National Strategy on Intellectual Property, Traditional Knowledge and Traditional Cultural Expressions
Background Brief - No. 3
This Brief summarizes the legal, policy and operational issues that need to be considered in developing a national strategy for the intellectual property protection of traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions.
Publication year: 2023
Traditional Knowledge and Intellectual Property
Background Brief - No. 1
This Brief provides general and basic information on the interface between intellectual property and traditional knowledge, traditional cultural expressions, and genetic resources.
Publication year: 2023
Protocol Relating to the Madrid Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Marks; Regulations; Administrative Instructions; Schedule of Fees.
The present publication contains the texts of the Protocol Relating to the Madrid Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Marks (hereinafter referred to as the “Protocol”) (1989), as amended in 2006 and in 2007, the Regulations under the Protocol Relating to the Madrid Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Marks, the Administrative Instructions for the Application of the Protocol and the Schedule of Fees.
Publication year: 2023
WIPO IP Facts and Figures 2023
An overview of intellectual property activity based on the latest available year of complete statistics.
Publication year: 2023
Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer for COVID-19 Vaccines: Assessment of the Record
Executive Summary
This Executive Summary concisely presents the results of an independent study commissioned by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)'s Global Challenges Division looking at the role played by intellectual property (IP) and technology transfer in the development, production and distribution of vaccines used to address the COVID-19 pandemic. The study uses a case-study approach to provide an in-depth analysis of some of the different approaches adopted by ten different global vaccine manufacturers, with respect to their funding, procurement, vaccine development and IP strategies (including licensing, technology transfer and access provisions). These experiences and lessons learnt provide practical insights to guide global policy-making on IP, health and access issues.
Publication year: 2023
Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer for COVID-19 Vaccines: Assessment of the Record
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)'s Global Challenges Division commissioned an independent study on the role played by intellectual property (IP) and technology transfer in the development, production and distribution of vaccines used to address the COVID-19 pandemic. The study uses a case-study approach to provide an in-depth analysis of some of the different approaches adopted by ten different global vaccine manufacturers, with respect to their funding, procurement, vaccine development and IP strategies (including licensing, technology transfer and access provisions). These experiences and lessons learnt provide practical insights to guide global policy-making on IP, health and access issues.
Publication year: 2023
Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources
Background Brief - No. 10
This Brief introduces intellectual property issues related to genetic resources under discussion in WIPO.
Publication year: 2023
The WIPO Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore
Background Brief - No. 2
This Brief provides background information on the WIPO Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore (IGC).
Publication year: 2023
WIPO Pulse
Global intellectual property perception survey 2023
Pulse is a path-breaking new survey of awareness of and attitudes toward intellectual property (IP) rights. The broadest survey of its kind, based on 25,000 interviews in 50 countries, WIPO Pulse is a unique snapshot of how individuals and communities think and feel about IP. This report covers the top-line findings of the survey and describes the research methodology used. It is a unique resource for policymakers, researchers, educators and others involved in promoting IP rights and raising IP awareness globally.
Publication year: 2023
WIPO Patent Drafting Manual
Second edition
The WIPO Patent Drafting Manual helps inventors and their advisors acquire the technical skills needed to prepare and file well-drafted patent applications. Covering both theory and practice, the manual takes the user through the process of preparing, drafting, filing, amending and prosecuting patent applications. The drafting of both claims and descriptions are explained in detail, with tips and illustrations.
Publication year: 2023
Country Perspectives The United Kingdom's Journey
The United Kingdom's Journey in the “Unlocking IP-backed Financing Series” provides an overview of the IP finance landscape in the UK. This includes an overview of the types of IP finance used in the UK, the regulatory and non-regulatory obstacles affecting its use, as well as the role of Government and plans for the future to help SMEs unlock access to IP finance.
Publication year: 2023
Global Innovation Index 2023, 16th Edition
Innovation in the face of uncertainty
The Global Innovation Index 2023 (GII) takes the pulse of innovation against a background of an economic and geopolitical environment fraught with uncertainty. Tracking the most recent global innovation trends, the GII finds that – despite a climate of disquiet and a decline in risk capital investment – opportunities abound as a result of the incipient Digital Age and Deep Science innovation waves. At its core, the GII 2023 reveals who is leading in global innovation, ranking the innovation performance of 132 economies and highlighting their strengths and weaknesses. In addition, it identifies the world's top 100 science and technology clusters. The GII is a “tool for action” regarding innovation policy. Governments around the world have used the GII to benchmark innovation performance, perfect innovation metrics and, ultimately, to shape evidence-based innovation policymaking. In the context of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), since 2019, the GII has been recognized by the United Nations General Assembly to be a benchmark for measuring innovation, including more recently in a post-pandemic environment.
Publication year: 2023
World Intellectual Property Indicators 2023
This authoritative report analyzes IP activity around the globe. Drawing on 2022 filing, registration and in force statistics from national and regional IP offices, it covers patents, utility models, trademarks, industrial designs, microorganisms, plant variety protection and geographical indications. The report also draws on survey data and industry sources to give a picture of activity in the creative economy.
Publication year: 2023
Intellectual Property (IP) Education in Business Schools
A Global Perspective
How do business schools equip budding entrepreneurs and business students with the IP skills needed for a global knowledge economy? To get a more informed view of the extent of IP education in business schools, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) undertook this study in collaboration with the Global Business School Network (GBSN). The study shows that IP is taught to some degree in the vast majority of business schools surveyed, but that more can be done, reinforcing the importance of collaboration among stakeholders of the innovation ecosystem, including IP governing bodies, business and educational institutions.
Publication year: 2023
Ars longa, vita brevis: The death of the creator and the impact on exhibitions and auction markets
Economic Research Working Paper No.76
This paper studies the death effect on artists' exhibitions and commercial success in the secondary art market. Based on a random sample of 1'000 popular artists born after the turn of the 20th century, we construct a novel panel data set of their worldwide exhibition history and auction transactions. By applying a regression discontinuity and event study design, we find an overall negative effect of artist death on the number of exhibitions. However, this post mortem effect disappears in longer term. Roughly ten years after death, exhibitions are back to pre-death levels. Arguably, transaction cost and higher auction prices after death also temporarily increase the average cost of exhibiting artworks, e.g. higher market valuation raises (unobserved) insurance cost for exhibitions. Hedonic auction price models confirm this intuition and suggest a significant price premium posthumously. We find substantial heterogeneity in the treatment depending on the age and reputation of the artist at death. Overall findings explain important mechanisms for the post mortem value of artistic work and have important policy implications for the creative sectors and the design of legacy stewardship rules, including a possible justification for rights granted post mortem such as copyright.
Publication year: 2023
Annual financial report and financial statements
Year to December 31, 2022
WIPO financial statements are submitted to its Assemblies of Member States in accordance with the Financial Regulations and Rules.
Publication year: 2023
Digitization and Availability of Artworks in Online Museum Collections
Economic Research Working Paper No.75
We provide quantitative evidence from museum collections about how copyright status affects the availability of digital images of artworks. The paper applies a regression discontinuity and differences-in-differences design to estimate online availability of artworks from U.S. collections on digital platforms. We find a strong increase in the availability of digital surrogates when copyright is perceived to expire and original artworks are likely to transition to the public domain. Moreover, artworks and surrogates made available see a large number of downstream reuses based on google image search data, which indicates online availability is of commercial and public value independent of right status. Notably, we show that upstream surrogates of public domain artworks made available by museums are positively correlated with higher image resolution quality as compared to digitized artworks still protected under copyright laws. At the same time, it seems expressed industry norms can help encourage U.S. museums to also make low-resolution surrogates of copyrighted artworks available.
Publication year: 2023
How to Make a Living from Music
Creative industries - third edition
Building a successful career in music includes managing intellectual property (IP) rights. WIPO supports authors and performers in enhancing their knowledge of the intellectual property aspects involved in their professional work. Copyright and related rights can help musical authors and performers generate additional income from their talent.
Publication year: 2024
WIPO Workforce 2023
June Edition
WIPO's workforce is the human capital of the Organization and its greatest asset. This brochure shows a detailed picture of staffing at WIPO in 2023.
Publication year: 2023
WIPO Intellectual Property (IP) and Gender Action Plan: The Role of IP in Support of Women and Girls
This document sets out the first strategic plan for WIPO's newly created IP and gender program which aligns with WIPO's Medium-Term Strategic Plan and complements WIPO's Gender Policy. Under the IP and Gender Action Plan (IPGAP), WIPO's policy is to lead the development of an IP ecosystem that promotes and encourages women's engagement in IP and innovation. WIPO will equip member states and external stakeholders by providing the necessary data and information to integrate a gender perspective into IP legislation, policies, programs and projects. This will attract investments, create jobs and drive economic growth for the benefit of women, communities and member states.
Publication year: 2023
TISCs and TTOs Report 2022
Strengthening local innovation capacities to accelerate knowledge and technology transfer
This annual report for Technology and Innovation Support Centers (TISCs) and Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs) highlights the main developments and milestones in 2022, with a focus on how TISCs in 90 countries and TTOs continued to expand their services to meet the needs of local innovators, and how WIPO supports them with new resources.
Publication year: 2023
Madrid Yearly Review 2023 – Executive Summary
International Registration of Marks
This executive brief identifies key trends in the use of the WIPO-administered Madrid System.
Publication year: 2023
Hague Yearly Review 2023 - Executive Summary
International Registration of Industrial Designs
This executive brief identifies key trends in the use of the WIPO-administered Hague System for the International Registration of Industrial Designs.
Publication year: 2023
Patent Cooperation Treaty Yearly Review – 2023
The International Patent System
Comprehensive facts, figures and analysis of the international patent system.
Publication year: 2023
WIPO High-Level Policy on Environmental Responsibility
This document sets out the High-Level Policy on Environmental Responsibility for the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
Publication year: 2023
Collective Management of Text and Image-Based Works
Collective Management of Text and Image-Based Works offers a general description of collective management of copyright in the text and image sector. It provides insight into the legislative framework and national operational systems in different parts of the world.
Publication year: 2023
IP assets and film finance - a primer on standard practices in the U.S.
Economic Research Working Paper No. 74
This research summarizes the basic economics of film finance and standard practices in the U.S. movie industry. It shows how risk and uncertainty around new film finance are managed by the private sector and what market-based solutions have been developed to mitigate risk in the sector. Based on a series of expert interviews and exploratory data analysis, the research presents the most common types of financial deals on the ground and reoccurring funding practices for new film production and distribution in the past twenty years, including a discussion of most recent trends and digital changes in the sector. In particular, the research highlights the prominent role of intellectual property (IP) in financial transactions of the movie industry and it discusses policy options in the U.S. and beyond to better leverage IP assets for financing purposes.
Publication year: 2023
Records of the Diplomatic Conference on the Protection of Audiovisual Performances
Geneva, December 7 to 20, 2000
The Records of the Diplomatic Conference on the Protection of Audiovisual Performances held in Geneva, from December 7 to 20, 2000, contain documents relating to that Conference, which were issued before, during and after the Conference.
Publication year: 2022
WIPO Workforce 2022
December Edition
WIPO's workforce is the human capital of the Organization and its greatest asset. This brochure shows a detailed picture of staffing at WIPO in 2022.
Publication year: 2022
WIPO Workforce 2024
June Edition
WIPO's workforce is the human capital of the Organization and its greatest asset. This brochure shows a detailed picture of staffing at WIPO in 2024.
Publication year: 2024
Metaverse
WIPO Conversation, IP and Frontier Technologies
The metaverse, a borderless, virtual world, heralds the Internet's next evolution and is poised to reshape work, play, and more. As technology intertwines with daily life, IP plays a pivotal role in protecting innovations and creations essential for the metaverse, such as artificial intelligence, virtual reality technologies, digital content, and virtual business models.
Publication year: 2024
Enabling Innovation Measurement at the Sub-National Level
A WIPO toolkit
Enabling Innovation Measurement at the Sub-National Level is part of the World Intellectual Property Organization's (WIPO) Intellectual Property (IP) and Innovation Ecosystems Sector (IES) response to supporting member states wishing to develop their own complementary and mutually reinforcing sub-national innovation indices. Drawing on the Global Innovation Index (GII) framework WIPO is proceeding in two ways: 1) organizing workshops on the exchange of best practices, and 2) providing this study on sub-national innovation indices.
Publication year: 2024
Generative Artificial Intelligence
Patent Landscape Report
In this WIPO Patent Landscape Report on Generative AI, discover the latest patent trends for GenAI with a comprehensive and up-to-date understanding of the GenAI patent landscape, alongside insights into its future applications and potential impact. The report explores patents relating to the different modes, models and industrial application areas of GenAI.
Publication year: 2024
World Intangible Investment Highlights
Better Data for Better Policy
World Intangible Investment Highlights reports together with underlying data from the Global INTAN-Invest Database offer novel, up-to-date cross-country, quarterly and annual measures of investment into intangible assets, including those not included in official statistics. The statistics cover a range of high-income and emerging economies.
Publication year: 2024
Closing Innovation and Intellectual Property Diversity Gaps: a Global Literature Review
Economic Research Working Paper No.86
Innovation is a driver of competitive advantage and economic growth, with patent rights playing a critical supporting role. However, differential access to patent rights and relatively less participation in innovation can affect women and people from other historically underrepresented groups, thereby hindering progress and limiting the potential economic benefits generated by innovation. This paper reviews the global literature on these “diversity gaps”, identifies their key drivers, and documents international policies and initiatives that show promise in addressing them. Building upon Shapanka and Fechner (2018), it expands the geographic scope and reinforces the scientific basis of their analysis. The paper also provides recommendations for a wide range of stakeholders and offers insights for fostering more inclusive and equitable innovation ecosystems.
Publication year: 2024
Contracts in Publishing
A toolkit for authors and publishers
Contracts in Publishing: A toolkit for authors and publishers provides information on copyright-related aspects and contractual options in the publishing sector. With a balanced approach considering the interests of both authors and publishers, the publication offers guidance to building basic knowledge and skills for successful publishing, co-publishing and licensing deals, targeting an audience of authors, visual artists, translators and publishers, especially in developing countries.
Publication year: 2024
WIPO Intellectual Property Youth Empowerment Strategy (IP-YES!)
The WIPO Intellectual Property and Youth Empowerment Strategy (IP-YES!) provides a structured way forward for targeted and impactful initiatives that will respond to the unique aspirations and needs of youth in three key areas: sparking passion, building skills, and empowering action for youth engagement and leadership in the IP system.
Publication year: 2024
Patent Cooperation Treaty Yearly Review – 2024
The International Patent System
Comprehensive facts, figures and analysis of the international patent system.
Publication year: 2024
Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)
Regulations under the PCT (as in force from July 1, 2024)
The Patent Cooperation Treaty makes it possible to seek patent protection for an invention simultaneously in each of a large number of countries by filing an "international" patent application. Such an application may be filed by anyone who is a national or a resident of a Contracting State.
Publication year: 2024
Hague Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Industrial Designs
Common Regulations (as in force on January 1, 2024) / Administrative Instructions (as in force on April 1, 2022)
The Hague System for the International Registration of Industrial Designs provides a practical business solution for registering up to 100 designs in any of its contracting parties, through the filing of a single international application with WIPO. Management of the resulting international registration is a single-step procedure. The Hague Agreement governs the Hague System.
Publication year: 2024
Country Perspectives Singapore's Journey
As the value of intangible assets including intellectual property (IA/IP) increases, governments are recognizing the need for enterprises to proactively protect, manage and commercialize them to derive maximum benefit for enterprises and the overall economy. This report gives an account of Singapore's IA/IP financing journey – the initiatives and the challenges faced, as well as the next steps on the journey to unlock IA/IP financing for innovative enterprises.
Publication year: 2023
The WIPO Academy Portfolio of Education, Training and Skills Development Programs 2024
This Portfolio serves as a catalogue of all the training opportunities to be offered by the WIPO Academy in 2024 and outlines the content of each course. It gives information to potential participants on eligibility criteria, application formalities, timelines, selection procedures, travel and other relevant necessary information.
Publication year: 2024
Country Perspectives Switzerland's Journey
Switzerland's Journey in the “Unlocking IP-backed Financing Series” gives an account of Switzerland's financing journey, the initiatives and the challenges faced, as well as the next steps to improve access to financing to commercialize Swiss innovation.
Publication year: 2023
Country Perspectives Jamaica's Journey
Jamaica's Journey in the “Unlocking IP-backed Financing Series” gives an account of Jamaica's journey to develop IP-based financing and the initiatives taking place to establish an on-going framework to promote awareness and access to IP-based financing.
Publication year: 2023
The Global Publishing Industry in 2022
This report provides a global overview of the publishing industry in 2022, covering both trade and education. Data is compiled by WIPO in collaboration with Centro Regional para el Fomento del Libro en América Latina y el Caribe (CERLALC), the Federation of European Publishers (FEP), the International ISBN Agency, the International Publishers Association (IPA), and the Nielsen Company. The survey focuses on published materials with an ISBN or DOI. It aims to make industry data accessible and highlight challenges in reporting consistent data.
Publication year: 2023
Green Technology Book
Executive summary
WIPO's second edition of the Green Technology Book illustrates how innovation, technology and intellectual property are at the forefront of climate change mitigation. This edition focuses on cities, agriculture and land use, and industry and highlights a broad range of technologies and solutions aiming to mitigate climate change.
Publication year: 2023
World Intellectual Property Report 2024
Making innovation policy work for development
Combining economic analysis with in-depth industry studies, the 2024 edition of the World Intellectual Property Report introduces a new data-driven methodology designed to help policymakers make informed decisions by leveraging existing local innovation capabilities and strengthen their national innovation ecosystems. Complementing this framework are three case studies across the agriculture technology, motorcycle and video game industries, spanning eight different countries. These studies demonstrate how countries have successfully carved out specialized trajectories within innovative and complex industries.
Publication year: 2024
WIPO Magazine, Issue 1/2024
The WIPO Magazine explores intellectual property, creativity and innovation in action across the world.
Publication year: 2024
Guide to the International Patent Classification (2024)
This Guide provides information on the objectives, history and reform of the International Patent Classification (IPC) as well as assistance in the use of the IPC.
Publication year: 2024
Country Perspectives: Türkiye's Journey
This report gives an account of Türkiye's Journey in the “Unlocking IP-backed Financing Series” - looking at the challenges as well as government-backed initiatives and commitments to facilitate activities supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Publication year: 2024
Access to science and innovation in the developing world
Economic Research Working Paper No.78
We examine the implications of lowering barriers to online access to scientific publications for science and innovation in developing countries. We investigate whether and how free or low-cost access to scientific publications through the UN-led Research For Life (R4L) initiative leads to more scientific publications and clinical trials of authors affiliated with research institutions in developing countries. We find that free or reduced-fee access to the health science literature through Hinari (WHO-led subprogramme) increases the scientific publication output and clinical trials output of institutions in developing countries. In contrast, once we control for selection bias, we do not find empirical support for a positive Hinari effect on knowledge spillovers and local institutions' research input into global patenting, as measured by paper citations in patent documents. Main findings can be generalized to other R4L subprogrammes and are likely to also apply to the WIPO-led Access to Research for Development and Innovation (ARDI) programme.
Publication year: 2024
WIPO Strategy on Standard Essential Patents 2024-2026
This document sets out a three-year strategic plan for WIPO in the field of standard essential patents (SEPs). The strategy, based on the guiding principles of neutrality, complementarity and voluntary nature, gives an account of WIPO's current activities and sets forth the four pillars of WIPO's upcoming work to serve as a global platform for discussion, enhance transparency, be a hub of knowledge and data, and provide meaningful services in the SEP area.
Publication year: 2024
WIPO International Patent Drafting Training Program
A comprehensive training program that improves the knowledge and skills required for successful patent applications.
Publication year: 2024
WIPO Workforce 2023
December Edition
WIPO's workforce is the human capital of the Organization and its greatest asset. This brochure shows a detailed picture of staffing at WIPO in 2023.
Publication year: 2023
Mapping Innovations
Patents and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
This report maps global patents to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), providing invaluable insights into patent trends aligned with the SDGs. It illustrates patenting activities relevant to the SDGs and the state of technology development across these goals. Utilizing the WIPO Technology Concordance, the report analyzes the alignment between specific technology fields and the SDGs. The study further investigates the geographical locations of inventors and jurisdictions for protecting SDG-related patents. Additionally, a detailed analysis of patent owners headquartered in five key regions is presented, highlighting their pivotal role in driving sustainable innovation across various industries.
Publication year: 2024
Artificial Intelligence and Intellectual Property: An Economic Perspective
Economic Research Working Paper No.77
The emergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has profound implications for intellectual property (IP) frameworks. While much of the discussion so far has focused on the legal implications, we focus on the economic dimension. We dissect AI's role as both a facilitator and disruptor of innovation and creativity. Recalling economic principles and reviewing relevant literature, we explore the evolving landscape of AI innovation incentives and the challenges it poses to existing IP frameworks. From patentability dilemmas to copyright conundrums, we find that there is a delicate balance between fostering innovation and safeguarding societal interests amidst rapid technological progress. We also point to areas where future economic research could offer valuable insights to policymakers.
Publication year: 2024
Guide to WIPO's services for country code top-level domain registries
This guide presents country code top-level domain (ccTLD) registry operators and national authorities with information on how to resolve third-party domain name disputes in a cost- and time-saving manner. It explains the main policy design features of a successful Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) system, and provides information on the WIPO-created Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP), including the possibility to tailor the UDRP for specific ccTLD requirements.
Publication year: 2024
TISCs Report 2023
Cultivating expertise to empower local innovators
This annual report of Technology and Innovation Support Centers (TISCs) highlights the main developments and milestones in 2023, with a focus on how TISCs in 93 countries and technology transfer structures continued to expand their services to meet the needs of local innovators, and how WIPO supports them with new resources.
Publication year: 2024
Hague Yearly Review 2024
International Registration of Industrial Designs
Comprehensive facts, figures and analysis of the international registration of industrial designs.
Publication year: 2024
Madrid Yearly Review 2024
International Registration of Marks
Comprehensive facts, figures and analysis of the international registration of marks.
Publication year: 2024
AI Inventions
The impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the patent system is significant and ongoing. Advancements in machine learning, natural language processing and robotics are reflected in an increasing number of patent applications filed for AI-related inventions. AI may contribute to the inventive process by generating ideas and improving efficiency, raising questions about its role in the inventive process and the DABUS cases highlight the need for clear interpretation of the term "inventor."
Publication year: 2024
Innovation and Intellectual Property Use in the Global Video Game Industry
Economic Research Working Paper No.85
This paper is an analysis of the evolution of the global video game industry, a sector characterized by rapid technological innovation and changing business models. It builds on the work of Özalp (2024) and delves into how innovation in hardware, software, digital transformation and business models have redefined the boundaries of game development and player experiences. The paper also explores the important job roles in the industry, the role of intellectual property and end with predictions for the future of the industry. It aims to provide an accessible understanding of the industry's evolution, its current state, and its potential future directions.
Publication year: 2024
Heterogeneous Development Paths to Growth and Innovation: The Evolution of the Video Game Industry across Four Hubs
Economic Research Working Paper No.84
This study explores the evolution and success drivers of the global video game industry, focusing on key hubs within Finland, Poland, Japan, and the United States. Using a qualitative methodology, the research delves into how unique capabilities and historical development have contributed to the industry's growth across these nations. The findings reveal diverse pathways to building video game industry clusters, emphasizing the role of cross-industry skill transfer, intellectual property, and government support. In traditional hubs like Japan and the United States, the crossover of capabilities from entertainment and hardware industries has been crucial, whereas, in newer hubs like Finland and Poland, the growth is attributed to unique local developments such as hobby coder communities or leveraging the initial localization efforts to build globally appealing games. It further highlights the pivotal role of education in sustaining the growth of video game industry hubs.
Publication year: 2024
The Evolution of the Two-Wheeler Industry: A Comparative Study of Italy, Japan, and India
Economic Research Working Paper No.83
This study leverages secondary data to provide a comprehensive outlook on the origin and evolution of the two-wheeler industry in Italy, Japan, and India. The study reveals how different technological, design, and manufacturing capabilities, combined with specific economic and social features in the historical contexts, have contributed to determine different trajectories in the evolution of these national industries. Recent trends towards digital transformation, electric mobility, connected driving are discussed. Three main takeaways emerge from our analysis. Firstly, the local capabilities play a crucial role in shaping both the origin and progression of the technology and the industry. Secondly, the two-wheeler industry displays patterns and trajectories that mimic the automotive industry, which can thus be used to interpret and forecast past, present, and future of motorcycles. Thirdly, the two-wheeler industry has been uniquely influenced by other industries, which has enhanced the complexity and effectiveness of its products and introduced novel elements which are reshaping the international demand for two-wheelers.
Publication year: 2024
Innovation Complexity in AgTech: The case of Brazil, Kenya and the United States of America
Economic Research Working Paper No.82
This paper illustrates successful policies and incentives that build on local innovation capabilities across three agricultural innovation hubs at different income levels and across different geographical regions. It makes the case for how countries highly complex innovation ecosystems, which refer to the diversity and sophistication of local innovators and the types of innovation they produce, tend to have more opportunities to shift their technological path to the frontier. The paper focuses on three agricultural hubs across different income levels and geography to illustrate how smart policies that focus on building local capabilities can help countries diversify and create their own agricultural technological paths. These hubs include: São Paulo in Brazil, Nairobi in Kenya and Colorado in the United States of America.
Publication year: 2024
Can we map innovation capabilities?
Economic Research Working Paper No.81
Recent years have witnessed a resurgence of industrial policies globally. Through various industrial policy instruments, governments make critical scientific and technological choices that shape innovation paths and resource allocations. Our paper explores innovation capabilities as essential drivers of competitive outcomes, spanning science, technology, and production domains. Based on the economic complexity literature, we propose a methodological framework to measure the innovation capabilities empirically, leveraging data on scientific publications, patents, and trade. Our findings highlight the multidimensional nature of innovation capabilities and underscore the importance of understanding both the specialization and quality of these capabilities. Our results are in line with the complexity literature, as we also find: (i) positive correlations between the innovation complexity and economic growth; and, (ii) the predictive power of existing innovation capabilities for fostering new ones. Based on these findings, we propose novel indicators informing innovation policymaking on the innovation potential across science, technology, and production fields of an ecosystem. We suggest that innovation policymaking needs to be informed by deeper insights into innovation capabilities that are crucial for long-term growth and competitiveness improvement.
Publication year: 2024
Global Trends in Innovation Patterns: A Complexity Approach
Economic Research Working Paper No.80
Technological know-how in a country shapes its growth potential and competitiveness. Scientific publications, patents, and international trade data offer complementary insights into how ideas from science, technology, and production evolve, combine, and are transformed into capabilities. Analyzing their trajectories enables a more comprehensive and multifaceted understanding of the whole innovation process, from generating ideas to internationally commercializing products. We analyze the production patterns in these three domains, documenting the differences between advanced and emerging market economies. We find that future income, patenting, and publishing growth correlate with the economic complexity indices calculated from these domains. Capabilities embedded in the country also shape future diversification opportunities and make the innovation process path dependent. Lastly, we also show that diversification opportunities can be inferred across innovation domains.
Publication year: 2024
Innovation Policies Under Economic Complexity
Economic Research Working Paper No.79
Recent geopolitical challenges have revived the implementation of industrial and innovation policies. Ongoing discussions focus on supporting cutting-edge industries and strategic technologies but hardly pay attention to their impact on economic growth. In light of this, we discuss the design of innovation policies to address current development challenges while considering the complex nature of productive activities. Our approach conceives economic development and technological progress as a process of accumulation and diversification of knowledge. This process is limited by the tacit nature of knowledge and by countries' binding constraints to growth. Consequently, effective innovation policies should be place-based and multidimensional, leveraging countries' existing capabilities and addressing countries' current problems. This contrasts policies that lead to economic efficiencies, such as copying other countries' solutions to problems that countries do not currently have.
Publication year: 2024
Global Innovation Index 2024
Executive Version
The Executive Version of the Global Innovation Index 2024 provides key highlights and results presented in the full report. The GII 2024 reveals who is leading in global innovation, ranking the innovation performance of 133 economies and highlighting their strengths and weaknesses. In addition, it identifies the world's top 100 science and technology clusters.
Publication year: 2024
Agrifood
Patent Landscape Report
With the advent of innovative technologies, the Agrifood sector is undergoing a transformation which is pivotal in ensuring a sustainable food security system worldwide. These advances are set to revolutionize agricultural practices and food production, impacting economic, social, and environmental aspects. The WIPO Patent Landscape Report on Agrifood looks at the latest patent trends in Agrifood, with a comprehensive and up-to-date understanding of the patent landscape in agricultural technology (AgriTech) and the food industry (FoodTech). The report also explores patents relating to the innovation and technological advancements in five case studies areas across the Agrifood sector.
Publication year: 2024
Global Innovation Index 2024, 17th Edition
Unlocking the Promise of Social Entrepreneurship
The GII 2024 reveals who is leading globally in innovation, ranking the innovation performance of 133 economies and highlighting their strengths and weaknesses. The thematic focus of the 2024 edition is social entrepreneurship. It looks at how a flurry of new ventures are finding innovative solutions directly addressing critical societal issues. Examples drawn from around the world showcase successful examples of social entrepreneurship, helping guide innovation policymakers and support schemes to better scale social entrepreneurship ventures for maximum systemic impact.
Publication year: 2024
Patent Cooperation Treaty Yearly Review 2024 - Executive Summary
The International Patent System
This executive brief identifies the key trends in the use of the WIPO-administered Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) and provides a summary of the statistics reported in the PCT Yearly Review 2024.
Publication year: 2024
Madrid Yearly Review 2024 – Executive Summary
International Registration of Marks
This executive brief identifies key trends in the use of the WIPO-administered Madrid System.
Publication year: 2024
Hague Yearly Review 2024 - Executive Summary
International Registration of Industrial Designs
This executive brief identifies key trends in the use of the WIPO-administered Hague System for the International Registration of Industrial Designs.
Publication year: 2024
Models of Intellectual Property Governance and Administration
Models of Intellectual Property Governance and Administration documents and analyzes prevailing approaches, trends and emerging directions in IP governance and administration. This study will equip policymakers with valuable insights to support well-informed decisions in designing IP governance and administration frameworks, thereby unleashing the full potential of the intellectual property system for the benefit of society.
Publication year: 2024
Generative AI
WIPO Conversation, IP and Frontier Technologies
Generative artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to disrupt every industry and many parts of our lives – promising both competitive advantage and creative destruction. But how creative and imaginative is generative AI, what are the potential implications for human creators and how do we ensure that the IP system continues to foster innovation and creativity in the age of AI?
Publication year: 2024
Sharing Knowledge, Building IP Skills – The WIPO Academy Year in Review 2020
This report presents the Academy's achievements in 2020 and highlights the latest developments across programs, including new partnerships and course offerings.
Publication year: 2021
WIPO GREEN – Year in Review 2020
The WIPO GREEN Year in Review 2020 provides a snapshot of last year's activities and achievements. Some highlights include the regional innovation acceleration project in Latin America, WIPO GREEN strategic activities, and the establishment of new partner and donor relationships.
Publication year: 2021
Guide to the International Registration of Marks under the Madrid Protocol
This Guide is primarily intended for applicants for, and holders of, international registrations of marks, as well as officials of the competent administrations of the members of the Madrid Union. It covers the various steps of the international registration procedure and explains the essential provisions of the Protocol Relating to the Madrid Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Marks and the Regulations under the Protocol.
Publication year: 2021
WIPO Magazine, Issue 4/2020 (December)
The WIPO Magazine explores intellectual property, creativity and innovation in action across the world.
Publication year: 2020
WIPO IP Facts and Figures 2020
An overview of intellectual property activity based on the latest available year of complete statistics.
Publication year: 2021
Staff @ WIPO: Engaged, Innovative, Resilient
Workforce: 2020
WIPO's workforce is the human capital of the Organization and its greatest asset. This brochure shows a detailed picture of staffing at WIPO in 2020, offering a breakdown of the workforce by category, sector, funding, type of staff appointment, geographical representation and gender balance. It also reports on organizational performance, learning and development, and organizational conflict management.
Publication year: 2020
Global Innovation Index 2020 - Executive version
Who Will Finance Innovation?
.
Publication year: 2020
Report of the Director General to the 2020 WIPO Assemblies
Retrospective 2008-2020
This report is a retrospective of the work accomplished by the Organization during the two terms of office of Director General Francis Gurry, from 2008 to 2020.
Publication year: 2020
Technology and Innovation Support Centers (TISCs) Report 2020
Enabling local innovators to exploit their potential
This annual report of the TISC program highlights the key trends, innovations and milestones in 2020, with a focus on how the program and the TISC network responded to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Publication year: 2021
Patent Cooperation Treaty Yearly Review 2021 - Executive Summary
The International Patent System
This document provides the key trends in the use of the WIPO-administered Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT). This edition provides a summary of the statistics reported in the PCT Yearly Review 2021.
Publication year: 2021