The Director of the United International Bureaux for the Protection of Intellectual Property (BIRPI) presents his compliments to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and, in accordance with the provisions of the above international instrument, adopted at Stockholm, has the honor to notify him that, at the expiration of the period of time reserved for that purpose (that is, on January 13, 1968), the following countries had affixed their signatures:
Algeria, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo-Kinshasa, Denmark, Ecuador, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany (Federal Republic), Greece, Holy See, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Ivory Coast, Japan, Kenya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Netherlands, Niger, Norway, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Rumania, Senegal, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Yugoslavia. (51 countries)
The Director of BIRPI wishes to call attention to the fact that all of the signatures were affixed subject to ratification with the single exception of Ireland which signed without reservation as to ratification.
When affixing their signatures, the plenipotentiaries of certain countries made declarations which are communicated hereinafter at the request, transmitted by the Government of Sweden, of the parties concerned.
Bulgaria:
"The People's Republic of Bulgaria considers it necessary to stress that the wording of Article 5 of the Convention Establishing the World Intellectual Property Organization signed at Stockholm on July 14, 1967, is of a discriminatory nature because it bars a certain number of States from becoming party to that Convention. The Article is clearly contrary to the nature of the World Intellectual Property Organization that is being established, the objective of which is to unite the efforts of all States for the purposes of protecting intellectual property and of regulating that field which are of concern to all countries.
The People's Republic of Bulgaria therefore feels that participation in conventions of this type should be open, without restriction, to all States, in conformity with the principles of the sovereign equality of States."
Hungary:
"At the time of the signing of Establishing the World Intellectual Property Organization, the Government of the Hungarian People's Republic wishes to make the following declaration: Inasmuch as the Convention Establishing the World Intellectual Property Organization has the character of a universal international convention which concerns the interests of all States, any State has the right, on the basis of the principle of the sovereign equality of States, to become party to the Convention."
Poland:
"When signing the Convention Establishing the World Intellectual Property Organization, signed at Stockholm on July 14, 1967, the Polish People's Republic made the following declaration: In order that the World Intellectual Property Organization may become really universal and so that it may perform its duties as set out in the preamble of the Convention, it must be open to all States wishing to accede to it and to accept its provisions."
Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic:
"The Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic declares that the Convention Establishing the World Intellectual Property Organization regulates questions concerning the interests of all countries; for that reason, participation in it should be open to all States, in accordance with the principle of their sovereignty and equality."
Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic:
"The Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic declares that the Convention Establishing the World Intellectual Property Organization regulates questions concerning the interests of all countries; for that reason, participation in it should be open to all States, in accordance with the principle of their sovereignty and equality."
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics:
"The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics declares that the Convention Establishing the World Intellectual Property Organization regulates questions concerning the interests of all countries; for that reason, participation in it should be open to all States, in accordance with the principle of their sovereignty and equality."
January 30, 1968