The processing of your Personal Data by WIPO through its website and online services and products is subject to the following Data Privacy Notice to which you agree by browsing the WIPO website and using its online services and products:
1. Definitions
1.1 WIPO is an intergovernmental organization and specialized agency of the United Nations with its headquarters located in Geneva, Switzerland, whose mission is to lead the development of a balanced and effective global intellectual property ecosystem to promote innovation and creativity for a better and more sustainable future.
1.2 “Personal Data” refers to information in electronic or any other form that can be used, directly or indirectly, to uniquely identify, contact, or locate an individual (natural person).
1.3 “Data Subject” refers to an individual whose Personal Data is subject to processing by, on or behalf of, WIPO.
1.4 “Data Processing” refers to collection, recording, storage, use, sharing, retention, archiving and destruction of Personal Data.
2. Introductions
2.1 In the course of its work and activities, WIPO may process some of your Personal Data. In alignment with United Nations Personal Data Protection and Privacy principles and well as international best practices, WIPO ensures a general policy of openness towards Data Subjects with respect to the processing of their Personal Data and will ensure that such data is appropriately protected.
2.2 In this regard, this Data Privacy Notice is intended to help you understand what Personal Data we collect, why we collect, how we use and secure it, your rights on your Personal Data and how these rights can be exercised.
3. Scope
This Notice covers the processing of Personal Data by WIPO through its website and other online services and products. However, it does not cover processing of Personal Data that is governed by the provisions of International Treaties administered by WIPO . Where applicable, the provisions of the Treaties concerned systematically apply and prevail over this Notice.
4. What Personal Data do we process
Personal Data You Provide to Us
4.1 When accessing WIPO's website and other online services and products, WIPO may process Personal Data in the course of the use and delivery of these services and products (e.g. WIPO Account, IP Portal, ePCT, WIPO newsletter, WIPO Contact Form, WIPO Conference Registration, etc.). The Personal Data processed may, inter alia, include your first and last name, postal address, phone number and email address.
4.2 Furthermore, specific types of Personal Data may be processed by WIPO in order to facilitate and support the delivery of WIPO services, products and operations. Examples include Identification Documents for physical and online access to various services and products as well as travel and conference support, banking information to facilitate payments, applicant CVs for recruitment, etc.
Personal Data We Collect by Automated Means
4.3 By accessing WIPO’s website and other online services and products, certain information such as Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, browsing behavior (e.g. web pages visited, browser used, connection time and duration, etc.) may be processed by WIPO.
4.4 Furthermore, WIPO’s website and other online services and products may use cookies to optimize functionality and improve user experience. For more details, refer to Section 5 on cookies.
6. Why we collect this Personal Data
6.1 WIPO processes Personal Data to fulfill its objectives and functions as stipulated in the Convention establishing WIPO. These objectives and functions consist, inter alia, of promoting the protection of intellectual property worldwide, maintaining services facilitating its protection and assembling as well as disseminating information concerning its protection.
6.2 WIPO processes Personal Data to maintain daily operations (such as customer registration and support, payments, conferences and travel management, systems administration, etc.), to reply to requests and to improve its services and products. For instance, WIPO may contact you regarding your account status, to confirm your registration to an event or to advise you of changes to a service.
6.3 Using the Data Subjects e-mail addresses, WIPO may periodically send information, survey requests or promotional e-mails about services, products, events, webinars or publications provided by WIPO. Upon request, Data Subjects may "opt out" of further e-mail contact (except for notifications required for the use and delivery of the service or product).
7. How we use your Personal Data
Personal Data is processed by WIPO in a fair and legitimate manner, for the sole purpose of providing and improving its services and products as well as meeting its obligations. Under no circumstances, is Personal Data used for any other incompatible purpose.
8. How long we store Personal Data
Personal Data is only retained for the time that is necessary to achieve the purpose for which it was collected. When we no longer need Personal Data, we will remove and securely destroy it from our systems and/or take steps to anonymize it.
9. Who we might share Personal Data with
9.1 In some cases, WIPO may share Personal Data with third party service providers for the purpose of providing WIPO services and products and to facilitate WIPO’s legitimate interests. These service providers will only be provided access to the Personal Data deemed as reasonably necessary for the purpose for which they have been engaged.
9.2 WIPO does not sell or otherwise disclose Personal Data collected except as described in this Privacy Notice.
10. How we keep Personal Data secure
10.1 Appropriate physical, technical and administrative controls are implemented by WIPO to secure your Personal Data from threats such as unauthorized or accidental access, damage, or loss.
10.2 In cases where the Personal Data is transferred to a third party, WIPO will ensure that the third party provides sufficient guarantees to implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to ensure appropriate protection for the Personal Data.
11. Your rights on your Personal Data
11.1 WIPO ensures a general policy of transparency in regard to the processing of Personal Data, as appropriate. As a Data Subject, you may request information regarding the processing of your Personal Data.
11.2 Subject to reasonable limitations and conditions, Data Subjects may be granted the opportunity to rectify, object to the processing, or request deletion of their Personal Data. In such cases, WIPO shall review the Data Subject request and stop processing the Personal Data if the objection is considered justified, proportionate, and practical to implement and not in conflict with the purpose of processing that Personal Data.
11.3 Such Data Subject requests should be submitted to WIPO in written form, in English or French and they must include sufficient information to support the claim. WIPO may take reasonable measures to validate the request, including the identity or authority of the individual making a Data Subject request.
11.4 Data Subjects wishing to exercise their rights in this regard may contact us (refer to Section 15 on contact information) and we will make reasonable efforts to respond to your request in a timely manner.
12. Privileges and Immunities
Nothing in or relating to this Privacy Notice shall be deemed a waiver of any privileges and immunities of WIPO as an international organization and specialized agency of United Nations.
13. Settlement of Disputes
13.1 Any dispute between WIPO and the Data Subject arising out of or relating to this Privacy Notice that cannot be resolved amicably shall be referred to arbitration in accordance with the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules then in force. WIPO and the Data Subject shall be bound by any arbitration award rendered as a result of such arbitration as the final adjudication of such a dispute.
14. Modifications to this Privacy Notice
WIPO may modify this Notice at any time at its sole discretion. Any modifications will be published on WIPO’s website. Unless stated otherwise, modifications shall take effect immediately following publication.
15. Contact Information
For further information on the processing of Personal Data by WIPO, you may contact WIPO’s Data Protection Officer.