Mediation and Arbitration for IP and Technology Disputes

The efficient use of intellectual property (IP) is of growing importance to successful business. However, disputes can interfere with IP rights, and can, at times, even sterilize the basic assets of an enterprise.

Although an IP dispute can be resolved through court litigation, that route can be prohibitively expensive and time-consuming, especially in an international setting. Businesses are, with increasing frequency, submitting disputes to mediation, arbitration or other alternative dispute resolution (ADR) procedures.

Advantages of ADR:

1. ADR can empower the parties by enhancing their control over the dispute resolution process.
2. If well managed, ADR can save time and money, and can be conducted entirely online.
3. Parties can select a mediator or arbitrator(s) with subject matter expertise.
4. ADR's confidential and consensual nature often results in a less adversarial process, allowing the parties to begin, continue, or enhance profitable business relationships with each other.

WIPO ADR services have been used by parties from more than 70 countries. Frequent users include multinational companies, SMEs, universities and R&D centers, and collecting societies. SMEs represent over 40% of the parties involved in WIPO mediations and arbitrations, and the WIPO Center provides complimentary procedural assistance as well as reduced fees for SMEs.