Congratulations, AEPO-ARTIS, on 30 years of activity!

On the occasion of its 30th anniversary of activity, CREDIDAM extends its warmest congratulations to AEPO-ARTIS! This achievement marks three decades of dedication to defending and promoting the rights of performers at the international level.

We are honored to be part of this prestigious community, as CREDIDAM is the only Romanian collective management association internationally affiliated through AEPO-ARTIS. This collaboration gives us the opportunity to contribute to global efforts to protect performers’ rights and proudly represent the interests of Romanian performers on the international stage.

AEPO-ARTIS remains a benchmark of excellence and solidarity in the creative industry. We thank them for their outstanding work and wish them continued success and many more achievements!

Happy birthday, AEPO-ARTIS!

GA 2024

The Annual General Assembly of CREDIDAM Association members is convened on the 25th of April 2024, respectively on the 26th of April 2024, in case the quorum is not met upon the first convocation, at 1000 am, at Hotel InterContinental Athénée Palace Bucharest (Episcopiei St. no.1-3, district 1, Bucharest, 010292 – at the corner of Calea Victoriei, across the street from the Romanian Athenaeum) having the following agenda of the meeting:

1. Accreditation:

a. Representatives;

b. Individual Members.

2. Establishment of a Quorum;

3. Opening of proceedings;

4. Election:

a. Of the Presidium of the Annual General Assembly;

b. Of the Secretariat of the Annual General Assembly;

c. Of the Quaestors of the Annual General Assembly (three Quaestors who will also be nominated as members of the poll committee).

5. Approval of the agenda of AGA;

6. Report of the Board of Directors for 2023;

7. Report of the Executive Manager for 2023;

8. The Financial and Accounting Report for the year 2023 (amounts collected, amounts distributed, amounts not distributed, commission)/ The Balance Sheet for the year 2023 / The ORDA Annual Report (to be filed with ORDA) for the year 2023 / The revenues and expenditure budget for the year 2024;

9. Report of the Audit Committee for 2023;

10. Report of the Supervisory Body for the year 2023;

11. Report of the Special Standing Committee on Access to Information for 2023;

12. The annual individual statements, prepared for the year 2023 by the members of the Board of Directors and the members of the Supervisory Body;

13. Discussion and approval by vote of the Decision of the Annual General Assembly:

– the Decision no. 101 regarding the surplus made by CREDIDAM at the end of 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, as well as regarding the unspent surpluses related to the years 2018 and 2017;

14. Election of the members of the Special Standing Committee on Access to Information (5 vacancies).

15. Election of the members of the Audit Committee (1 vacancy).

16. Miscellaneous;

17. Establishing the date of the next Annual General Assembly;

18. Closing the proceedings of the CREDIDAM Association General Assembly.

According to art. 12 point I para. 10 of the CREDIDAM Association Statute, if the quorum is not met on the 25th of April, 2024, the Annual General Assembly will be convened on the 26th of April, 2024, in the same place and at the same time, the decisions being validly taken with half plus one of the present members, notwithstanding their number.

Access to the hall is allowed to CREDIDAM members based on the membership card and the delegation by which the representative appointed according to art. 99 para. 2 of Law no. 8/1996 and art. 12 point I para. (8) of the CREDIDAM Statute / the agent (CREDIDAM performer/member) is mandated / authorized to participate in and represent the interests of the group / members represented within the CREDIDAM Annual General Assembly. CREDIDAM members may request the forms for group representatives until Monday, the 10th of April 2023, in order for them to be centralized.

Each CREDIDAM member is entitled to designate, by proxy, another person or entity to participate and vote on its behalf in the General Aseembly, provided that such appointment does not lead to a conflict of interest. The power of attorney must be concluded in an authentic form and registered with the CREDIDAM Association headquarters at least 25 days before the date on which the General Assembly takes place, respectively on the 25th/26th of April 2024. The power of attorney must expressly include the detailed conditions of participation of the agent, the limits and instructions for voting, the power of attorney is valid for a single general assembly and it may not be given before the date of publication of the notice regarding the general assembly. The representative shall enjoy at the general assembly the same rights as the member who appointed him/her (art. 155 para. (2) of the Law no. 8/1996 on copyright and related rights, as republished, with subsequent amendments and supplements and art. 12, point I, para. 7 of CREDIDAM Association Statute).

We are open from 10.00 to 17.00 for any further information, by phone 021.307.92.00 and/or fax: 021.318.58.13 and by e-mail office@credidam.ro.

The Members of the Board of Directors and of the Specialized Commission unanimously decide that CREDIDAM members should be convened by posting the announcement on the CREDIDAM website, www.credidam.ro, in an online newspaper, by invitation sent to each representative/agent, upon their request, by a text message (sms) sent to all the members who communicated to CREDIDAM their contact details.

Click here CONVENER

Click here AGENDA

Click here LIST OF CANDIDATES

Click here DECISION no. 101

AGA 2023

The Annual General Assembly of CREDIDAM members is convened on the 26^th of April 2023, respectively on the 27^th of April 2023, in case the quorum is not met upon the first convocation, at 10⁰⁰ am, at Sheraton Hotel in Bucharest, (Calea Dorobanților 5-7, sector 1, Bucharest), having the following agenda of the meeting:

1. Accreditation:

a. Representatives;

b. Individual Members.

2. Establishment of a Quorum;

3. Opening of proceedings;

4. Election:

a. Of the Presidium of the Annual General Assembly;

b. Of the Secretariat of the Annual General Assembly;

c. Of the Quaestors of the Annual General Assembly (three Quaestors who will also be nominated as members of the poll committee).

5. Approval of the agenda of AGA;

6. Report of the Board of Directors for 2022;

7. Report of the Executive Manager for 2022;

8. The Financial and Accounting Report for the year 2022 (amounts collected, amounts distributed, amounts not distributed, commission)/ The Balance Sheet for the year 2022 /  The ORDA Annual Report (to be filed with ORDA) for the year 2022 / The revenues and expenditure budget for the year 2023;

9. Report of the Audit Committee for 2022;

10. Report of the Supervisory Body for the year 2022;

11. Report of the Special Standing Committee on Access to Information for 2022;

12. The annual individual statements, prepared for the year 2022 by the members of the Board of Directors and the members of the Supervisory Body;

13. Discussion and approval by vote of the Decision of the Annual General Assembly:

- the Decision no. 100 regarding the surplus made by CREDIDAM at the end of 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, as well as regarding the unspent surpluses related to the years 2018 and 2017;

14. Election of the members of the Board of Directors (6 vacancies).

15. Election of the members of the Specialized Commission (13 vacancies).

16. Election of the members of the Special Standing Committee on Access to Information (5 vacancies).

17. Election of the members of the Supervisory Committee (3 vacancies).

18. Election of the members of the Audit Committee (2 vacancies).

19. Election of the members of the Negotiation Committee (2 vacancies).

20. Miscellaneous;

21. Establishing the date of the next Annual General Assembly;

22. Closing the proceedings of the CREDIDAM General Assembly.

According to art. 12 point I para. 10 of the CREDIDAM Statute, if the quorum is not met on the 26^th of April, 2023, the Annual General Assembly will be convened on the 27^th of April, 2023, in the same place and at the same time, the decisions being validly taken with half plus one of the present members, notwithstanding their number.

Access to the hall is allowed to CREDIDAM members based on the membership card and the delegation by which the representative appointed according to art. 99 para. 2 of Law no. 8/1996 and art. 12 point I para. (8) of the CREDIDAM Statute / the agent (CREDIDAM performer/member) is mandated / authorized to participate in and represent the interests of the group / members represented within the CREDIDAM Annual General Assembly. CREDIDAM members may request the forms for group representatives until Monday, the 10^th of April 2023, in order for them to be centralized.

Each CREDIDAM member is entitled to designate, by proxy, another person or entity to participate and vote on its behalf in the General Assembly, provided that such appointment does not lead to a conflict of interest. The power of attorney must be concluded in an authentic form and registered with the CREDIDAM headquarters at least 25 days before the date on which the General Assembly takes place, respectively on the 26^th/27^th of April 2023. The power of attorney must expressly include the detailed conditions of participation of the agent, the limits and instructions for voting, the power of attorney is valid for a single general assembly and it may not be given before the date of publication of the notice regarding the general assembly. The representative shall enjoy at the general assembly the same rights as the member who appointed him/her (art. 155 para. (2) of the Law no. 8/1996 on copyright and related rights, as republished, with subsequent amendments and supplements and art. 12, point I, para. 7 of CREDIDAM Statute).

We are open 10.00 to 17.00 for any further information, by phone 021.307.92.00 and/or fax: 021.318.58.13 and by e-mail office@credidam.ro.

The Members of the Board of Directors and of the Specilized Commission unanimously decide that CREDIDAM members should be convened by posting the announcement on the CREDIDAM website, www.credidam.ro, in an online newspaper, by invitation sent to each representative/agent, upon their request, by a text message (sms) sent to all the members who communicated to CREDIDAM their contact details.

Click here CONVENER

Click here AGENDA

Click here LIST OF CANDIDATES

Click here DECISION no. 100

CREDIDAM shall convene its members to the Extraordinary General Assembly on the 5th respectively 6th of September 2022

The Extraordinary General Assembly of CREDIDAM members is convened on the 5^th of September 2022, respectively on the 6^th of September 2022, in case the quorum is not met upon the first convocation, at 10⁰⁰ am, at „Arenele Romane” Performance Hall – ARENELE ROMANE in Bucharest, Str. Cuţitul de Argint, nr. 3, (Parcul Carol) Sector 4, having the following agenda of the meeting:

1.            Accreditation:

a.     Representatives;

b.    Individual Members.

2.            Establishment of a Quorum;

3.            Opening of proceedings;

4.            Election:

a.     Of the Presidium of the Extraordinary General Assembly;

b.    Of the Secretariat of the Extraordinary General Assembly;

c.     Of the Quaestors of the Extraordinary General Assembly (three Quaestors who will also be nominated as members of the poll committee).

5.            Approval of the agenda of EGA;

6.            Discussion and approval by vote of the Decision of the Extraordinary General Assembly:

-     the Decision no. 99 regarding the approval of the amendments to CREDIDAM Statute, in accordance with Law no.8/1996 on copyright and related rights, as amended and supplemented by Law no. 69/2022, in the form advised by ORDA (Romanian Copyright Office).

7.          Updating the extract from CREDIDAM Statute regarding the methodology/formula used by CREDIDAM to calculate the remunerations due to rightholders (on collection sources) and the Distribution Manual, following the modification of Law no. 8/1996 on copyright and related rights, by Law no. 69/2022 and CREDIDAM Statute amendment, for their posting on CREDIDAM webpage, www.credidam.ro

8.            Miscellaneous;

9.          Closing the proceedings of the CREDIDAM General Assembly.

According to art. 12 point I para. 10 of the CREDIDAM Statute, if the quorum is not met on the 5^th of September, 2022, the Extraordinary General Assembly will be convened on the 6^th of September, 2022, in the same place and at the same time, the decisions being validly taken with half plus one of the present members, notwithstanding their number.

Access to the hall is allowed to CREDIDAM members based on the membership card and the delegation by which the representative appointed according to art. 99 para. 2 of Law no. 8/1996 and art. 12 point I para. (8) of the CREDIDAM Statute / the agent (CREDIDAM performer/member) is mandated / authorized to participate in and represent the interests of the group / members represented within the CREDIDAM Extraordinary General Assembly. CREDIDAM members may request the forms for group representatives until Monday, the 22^nd of August 2022, in order for them to be centralized.

Each CREDIDAM member is entitled to designate, by proxy, another person or entity to participate and vote on its behalf in the General Assembly, provided that such appointment does not lead to a conflict of interest. The power of attorney must be concluded in an authentic form and registered with the CREDIDAM headquarters at least 25 days before the date on which the General Assembly takes place, respectively on the 5^th/6^th of September 2022. The power of attorney must expressly include the detailed conditions of participation of the agent, the limits and instructions for voting, the power of attorney is valid for a single general assembly and it may not be given before the date of publication of the notice regarding the general assembly. The representative shall enjoy at the general assembly the same rights as the member who appointed him/her (art. 155 para. (2) of the Law no. 8/1996 on copyright and related rights, as republished, and art. 12, point I, para. 7 of CREDIDAM Statute).

We are open for any further information between 10.00 am – 5.00 pm, by phone 021.307.92.00 and/or fax: 021.318.58.13 and by e-mail office@credidam.ro.

The Members of the Board of Directors and of the Specialized Commission unanimously decide that CREDIDAM members should be convened by posting the announcement on the CREDIDAM website, www.credidam.ro, in an online newspaper, by invitation sent to each representative/agent, according to their request, by a text message (sms) sent to all the members who communicated to CREDIDAM their contact details.

Click here CONVENER

Click here AGENDA

Click here DECISION no. 99

Click here CREDIDAM Statute with modifications in red

CREDIDAM shall convene its members to the Annual General Assembly on the 27th of April 2022, respectively on the 28th of April 2022

The Annual General Assembly of CREDIDAM members is convened on the 27th of April 2022, respectively on the 28th of April 2022, in case the quorum is not met upon the first convocation, at 1000 am, at „Arenele Romane” Performance Hall – ARENELE ROMANE in Bucharest, Str. Cuţitul de Argint, nr. 3, (Parcul Carol) Sector 4, having the following agenda of the meeting:

1. Accreditation:

a. Representatives;

b. Individual Members.

2. Establishment of a Quorum;

3. Opening of proceedings;

4. Election:

a. Of the Presidium of the Annual General Aseembly;

b. Of the Secretariat of the Annual General Aseembly;

c. Of the Quaestors of the Annual General Assembly (three Quaestors who will also be nominated as members of the poll committee).

5. Approval of the agenda of AGA;

6. Report of the Board of Directors for 2021;

7. Report of the Executive Manager for 2021;

8. The Financial and Accounting Report for the year 2021 / The Balance Sheet for the year 2021 / The ORDA Annual Report (to be filed with ORDA) for the year 2021 / The revenues and expenditure budget for the year 2022;

9. Report of the Audit Committee for 2021;

10. Report of the Supervisory Body for the year 2021;

11. Report of the Special Standing Committee on Access to Information for 2021;

12. The annual individual statements, prepared for the year 2021 by the members of the Board of Directors and the members of the Supervisory Body;

13. Discussion and approval by vote of the Decision of the Annual General Assembly:

– the Decision no. 97 regarding the surplus made by CREDIDAM at the end of 2021, 2020, 2019, as well as regarding the unspent surpluses related to the years 2017 and 2018;

14. Election of a member of the Board of Directors (one vacancy);

15. Election of a member of the Specialized Commission, Section “Actors” (one vacancy);

16. Election of the members of the Special Standing Committee on Access to Information;

17. Miscellaneous;

18. Establishing the date of the next Annual General Assembly;

19. Closing the proceedings of the CREDIDAM General Assembly.

According to art. 12 point I para. 10 of the CREDIDAM Statute, if the quorum is not met on the 27th of April, 2022, the Annual General Assembly will be convened on the 28th of April, 2022, in the same place and at the same time, the decisions being validly taken with half plus one of the present members, notwithstanding their number.

Access to the hall is allowed to CREDIDAM members based on the membership card and the delegation by which the representative appointed according to art. 99 para. 2 of Law no. 8/1996 and art. 12 point I para. (8) of the CREDIDAM Statute / the agent (CREDIDAM performer/member) is mandated / authorized to participate in and represent the interests of the group / members represented within the CREDIDAM Annual General Assembly. CREDIDAM members may request the forms for group representatives until Monday, the 11th of April 2022, in order for them to be centralized.

Each CREDIDAM member is entitled to designate, by proxy, another person or entity to participate and vote on its behalf in the General Aseembly, provided that such appointment does not lead to a conflict of interest. The power of attorney must be concluded in an authentic form and registered with the CREDIDAM headquarters at least 25 days before the date on which the General Assembly takes place, respectively on the 27th/28th of April 2022. The power of attorney must expressly include the detailed conditions of participation of the agent, the limits and instructions for voting, the power of attorney is valid for a single general assembly and it may not be given before the date of publication of the notice regarding the general assembly. The representative shall enjoy at the general assembly the same rights as the member who appointed him/her (art. 155 para. (2) of the Law no. 8/1996 on copyright and related rights, as republished, and art. 12, point I, para. 7 of CREDIDAM Statute).

We are open for any further information between 10.00 am – 5.00 pm, by phone 021.307.92.00 and/or fax: 021.318.58.13 and by e-mail office@credidam.ro.

The Members of the Board of Directors and of the Specilized Commission unanimously decide that CREDIDAM members should be convened by posting the announcement on the CREDIDAM website, www.credidam.ro, in an online newspaper, by invitation sent to each representative/agent, according to their request, by a text message (sms) sent to all the members who communicated to CREDIDAM their contact details.

Click here CONVENER

Click here AGENDA

Click here LIST OF CANDIDATES

Click here DECISION no. 97

Leading academic says the best mechanism for an effective remuneration right for performers is collective management

In a detailed legal analysis, Professor Raquel Xalabarder, concludes that governments should implement an unwaivable remuneration right, administered collectively, in order to meet the legal objectives of the Copyright Directive.

Professor Xalabarder’s legal academic paper argues that,

“a verbatim implementation of the principle in Art.18 DSMD is not enough. Member States are expected and obliged to go further implementing, as necessary, “different mechanisms” to effectively secure fair remuneration of Authors and Performers”.

She analyses the legal mechanisms for ensuring fair remuneration. In order for governments to  implement the article on appropriate and proportionate remuneration in a meaningful way, the right should be unwaivable and administered by a collective management organisation.

“The principle of fair remuneration in Art.18 DSMD not only confirms the important role of national legislators in securing that goal, but obliges them to explore and implement the full potential of these several mechanisms, adjusting them to different sectors as necessary”.

Professor Raquel Xalabarder considers the context of Article 18 and the mechanisms already successfully established in some member states (e.g. Spain). She argues that,

“(s)tatutory residual remuneration rights, granted by law as unwaivable (and inalienable) rights to receive remuneration subject to collective management (mandatorily, if necessary) and paid by users/licensees remain the best mechanism to secure effective fair remuneration for Authors and Performers, especially in the audiovisual and music sectors.”

That is the conclusion of the academic paper written by the Professor Raquel Xalabarder, a leading expert on international copyright law.

The implementation of the 2019 Copyright Directive provides national legislators with the structure to improve the situation of authors and performers throughout the European Union. In Chapter 3, this Copyright Directive mandates detailed provisions to ensure that artists benefit from their creativity, talent and work. That they receive “fair remuneration” from their music and videos on digital services. This is crucial for their livelihood without live opportunities due to Corona measures; consumers moving more and more to streaming services.

Professor Raquel Xalabarder analyses specifically the mandatory principles and rights in the Directive Copyright in the Digital Single Market 2019/790 – DSMD which strengthen the contractual position of authors and performers in the digital world. Member States have until 7^th June 2021 to implement the relevant provisions into their national law.

In addition to provisions on transparency, contract adjustment and revocation, the Directive mandates appropriate and proportionate remuneration. This provision (Article 18) has been introduced on the behest of the European Parliament to make sure that individual artists creating and performing music benefit from their creativity in practice,  and not only tech companies and producers. It is now for national legislators to support their artists and culture.

Such remuneration which is complimentary to the transfer of exclusive rights to the producer complies with International Copyright provisions and the European Copyright Framework.

She summarises her ten final thoughts at the end of the paper (for those who don’t have the time to enjoy the development of her thorough argument in the paper). You can read Professor Xalabarder’s paper here.

MUSIC AUTHORS AND PERFOMERS STRONGLY DENOUNCE EPIDEMIC SOUND’S MALPRACTICES AND ITS PROFOUND DISRESPECT FOR THEIR RIGHTS

The Association of European Performers’ Organisations (AEPO-ARTIS), the European Composer and Songwriter Alliance (ECSA), and the International Federation of Musicians (FIM) collectively represent over 500 000 composers, songwriters and performers. We feel compelled to speak out against the harmful development of Epidemic Sound for the ability of these professionals to make a living from their creations.

Over the recent years, the Swedish company Epidemic Sound has grown extensively by selling “royalty-free music” to various commercial companies, like video-on-demand platforms and TV stations. It uses 100% buy-out contracts – whereby music authors and performers sell their rights for the full term of protection in exchange for a lump sum payment – depriving them from payment of royalties and equitable remuneration, which are essential to their livelihoods. It also often substitutes the name of music creators with the company’s name in their credits, showing a profound disrespect for our members’ moral rights to be properly credited for their works and performances.

While our organisations regularly receive complaints from music creators about these malpractices, the tech company Adobe has recently partnered with Epidemic Sound and Jamendo to launch a library of “royalty-free” music. This partnership further hinders the music creators’ ability to earn a living from the exploitation of their works and performances. In a context where our members’ activities are under existential threat because of the COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences, the development of buy-out contracts eludes the collective rights management system and prevents guaranteed payments based on remuneration rights. The expansion of Epidemic Sound represents yet another threat to the fair remuneration of authors and performers in the music sector and their ability to develop sustainable careers.

We therefore firmly condemn this partnership, which relies on the expropriation of music authors and performers from their rights and legitimate revenues. We call on any public or private company to refrain from collaborating with an entity that disrespects authors and performers and their basic economic and moral rights. Moreover, we urge all authors and performers in the music sector to carefully consider all the potential consequences of buy-out agreements, whereby all their exclusive rights are transferred in perpetuity against no future revenue. The development of such buy-out malpractices, which do not even give credit to authors and performers, have nothing modern nor innovative. They simply prevent music creators from being paid fairly for the use of their works, which should no longer occur in the 21st century.

AEPO-ARTIS is a non-profit making organisation that represents 36 European performers’ collective management organisations from 26 different countries. The number of performers represented by the 36-member organisations of AEPO-ARTIS can be estimated at between 400,000 and 500,000. www.aepo-artis.org

The European Composer and Songwriter Alliance (ECSA) represents over 30,000 professional composers and songwriters in 27 European countries. With over 60-member organizations across Europe, the Alliance speaks for the interests of music creators of art & classical music (contemporary), film & audiovisual music, as well as popular music. composeralliance.org/

The International Federation of Musicians (FIM), founded in 1948, is the only body representing musicians’ unions globally, with members in about 65 countries covering all regions of the world. FIM is recognised as an NGO by diverse international authorities such as WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organisation), UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation), the ILO (International Labour Office), the European Commission, the European Parliament or the Council of Europe www.fim-musicians.org/

WIPO’s Beijing Treaty on Audiovisual Performances Set to Enter into Force with Indonesia’s Ratification; Aims to Improve Livelihoods of Actors and other Audiovisual Performers

The Beijing Treaty on Audiovisual Performances gained a key 30th member, allowing entry into force of the international agreement designed ultimately to improve earning conditions for actors and other audiovisual performers vital to the films and television shows beloved by viewing publics worldwide.

With the ratification of Indonesia on January 28, 2020, the Beijing Treaty will enter into force for its 30 contracting parties on April 28, 2020. WIPO member states in 2012 approved the Treaty at a Diplomatic Conference hosted by the Chinese Government in Beijing, from where the Treaty takes its name.

Many audiovisual performers – television and film actors, musicians, dancers, choreographers and others – never reap great fortunes and could in fact use some support in ensuring the sustainability of their livelihoods.

WIPO Director General Francis Gurry

The Beijing Treaty bolsters AV performers’ rights to their work, which translates into rising earnings, and promotes the economic sustainability of the audiovisual industry that delights us all.

WIPO Director General, Francis Gurry

The Beijing Treaty is the most important thing that has happened to actors since the invention of cinema.

Javier Bardem, Actor

About the Beijing Treaty

The Beijing Treaty deals with the intellectual property (IP) rights of performers in audiovisual performances, notably by bolstering five kinds of exclusive economic rights for the beneficiaries’ performances fixed in an audiovisual format: The rights of reproduction, distribution, rental, making available and broadcasting and communication to the public.

By joining the Treaty, its members agree to adopt, in accordance with their legal systems, the measures necessary to ensure the application of the Treaty. In particular, each contracting party must ensure that enforcement procedures are available under their laws, permitting effective action against any act of infringement of rights covered by the Treaty. The action must include expeditious remedies to prevent and defer infringement.

Background

The Beijing Treaty modernizes and updates for the digital era the protection for singers, musicians, dancers and actors in audiovisual performances contained in the Rome Convention for the Protection of Performers, Producers of Phonograms and Broadcasting Organizations (1961). These updates for the digital era complement the provisions in the WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty (WPPT), which updated protections for performers other than audiovisual performers and for producers of phonograms.

Find out more

• Main Provisions and Benefits of the Beijing Treaty on Audiovisual Performances
• Beijing Treaty website

About WIPO

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is the global forum for intellectual property policy, services, information and cooperation. A specialized agency of the United Nations, WIPO assists its 192 member states in developing a balanced international IP legal framework to meet society’s evolving needs. It provides business services for obtaining IP rights in multiple countries and resolving disputes. It delivers capacity-building programs to help developing countries benefit from using IP. And it provides free access to unique knowledge banks of IP information.

WIPO Director General Francis Gurry