There are International and Regional Intellectual Property Organisations in the world which provides services on Trademarks, Patents and Copyright. Among these are International Intergovernmental Organizations designed for the protection of the intellectual property in the world.
International Organisations:
Among International Organisations are included following:
1. WIPO
World Intellectual Property Organisation WIPO is the global forum for intellectual property services, policy, information and cooperation. WIPO is a self-funding agency of the United Nations, with 188 member states.
2. ARIPO
African Regional Intellectual Property Organization consisting of 19 member countries provides one window application system of registration for these countries. According to Article IV of the Lusaka Agreement that created ARIPO, membership in the Organization is open to States which are members of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) or of the African Union (AU). There are currently 19 States which are party to the Lusaka Agreement and therefore members of ARIPO. These are: Botswana, The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, Somalia, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
3. EUIPO formerly OHIM
EUIPO – European Union Intellectual Property Office was formerly known and named as OHIM – The Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market which was the European Union agency responsible for managing the Community trade mark and the registered Community design. Until March 23, 2016 the European Union trade mark or EU trade mark abbreviated as EUTM was named Community Trade Mark (CTM). Regulation (EU) No 2015/2424 of the European Parliament and the Council came into force on 23 March 2016 to make certain amendments. OHIM is now called the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and the Community trade mark is called the European Union Trade mark (EUTM).
EUIPO provides you with exclusive rights for trade mark and design protection throughout the European Union (EU) with just a single application.
EUTM is a combined trademark registration system in Europe. Through EUTM protection the trademark protection is possible in all member states of the European Union. The drawback is that any one state which has an objection may decline and frustrate the registration of Trademark. It can defeat the entire application, a EUTM registration is enforceable in all member states. The EUTM system is administered byEUIPO
4. BOIP – Benelux Office for Intellectual Property
The Benelux Office for Intellectual Property (BOIP) is the official body for the registration of trademarks and designs in the Benelux region. Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg protect their intellectual property through BOIP collaboration. It is the trademark and design registration office in Europe. The Benelux Union is a politico-economic union of three neighboring states in central western Europe. These three states are Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. BOIP is their IP office.
5. EPO – European Patent Organisation
The European Patent Organisation (EPO) is an intergovernmental organisation established on 7 October 1977 in pursuant of the European Patent Convention (EPC) 1973.
The European and national patent grant procedures exist in parallel. When seeking patent protection in one or more EPC contracting states the applicant has a choice to choose either to follow the national procedure in each state or to take the European route. The EPO confers protection in all the contracting states which the applicant designate in a single procedure.
If the registration of the patent of invention is required in one particular country then it is better to apply for that country only through national patent office of the country concerned.
The maximum term of a European patent is 20 years from its filing date. The patent may lapse earlier if the annual renewal fees are not paid or if the patent is revoked by the patentee or after opposition proceedings.
