World Intellectual Property Organization

IP Services

Businesses and innovators need easy, cost-effective ways to protect their inventions, their brands, and their designs in multiple countries.

WIPO offers a range of global services for protecting intellectual property (IP) across borders, and for resolving IP disputes outside the courts.

PDF, Guide to WIPO Services
For a basic overview, read our short Guide to WIPO Services PDF, Guide to WIPO Services.

Protecting intellectual property

Whether you are a multinational business or an individual, our services provide you with a fast, efficient and cost-effective route for protecting your inventions, trademarks or designs across borders.

PCT system

The International Patent System

Seek patent protection in multiple countries by filing one international application. The PCT system:

  • postpones the major costs associated with international patent protection;
  • provides you with a strong basis for patenting decisions;
  • is used by the world’s major corporations, research institutions and universities.

Madrid system

The International Trademark System

Register your trademarks in multiple countries by filing one international application. The Madrid system:

  • saves you time and money;
  • covers 113 countries;
  • enables you to manage and renew your marks through one centralized system.

Hague system

The International Design System

Register industrial designs in multiple countries with a minimum of formalities and expense. The Hague system:

  • replaces multiple registrations with just one;
  • lets you register up to 100 industrial designs with one form;
  • makes management of your registered designs easier — record changes or renewals through a single step.

The Lisbon system for appellations of origin

The Lisbon system provides a means of obtaining protection for appellations of origin in several countries through a single registration procedure in one language, with one set of fees in one currency.

Protecting state emblems (Article 6ter)

Article 6ter of the Paris Convention enables governments to protect their flags and other state emblems; and intergovernmental organizations to protect their names, abbreviations and emblems.

Resolving IP disputes

Our international Alternative Dispute Resolution services enable you to resolve IP disputes outside the courts, in a single neutral forum, saving significant time and money.

Arbitration and mediation

Our fast, flexible and cost-effective services for settling IP and technology disputes outside the courts include:

  • Mediation — where an impartial mediator helps two or more parties in dispute reach a mutually acceptably agreement between themselves.
  • Arbitration — where the parties agree to submit their dispute to an arbitrator, who then makes a final, binding decision (award).
  • Expert determination — where the parties agree to submit a specific issue (such as a technical question, or the valuation of an IP asset, or royalty rates) to one or more experts who make a determination.

Domain name disputes

We are the leading international service-provider for disputes relating to Internet domain names - or “cybersquatting.”

Our dispute resolution procedure is conducted in electronic format and delivers enforceable decisions within just two months.

Services for patent offices

Secure exchange of documents

DAS: The WIPO Digital Access Service (DAS) system enables participating IP offices to exchange priority and other similar documents securely among themselves.

CASE: The WIPO Centralized Access to Search and Examination (CASE) system enables patent offices to securely share search and examination documentation related to patent applications, facilitating a more effective and efficient international examination process.

Explore WIPO