E-Commerce Update March 2008 - International developments

125th anniversary of the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property

On 20 March 2008, the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) celebrated the 125th anniversary of the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property (Paris Convention), the international intellectual property treaty which was first signed by 11 states in Paris on 20 March 1883. The number of signatories has since grown to 172 countries.  

The Paris Convention establishes international standards which require countries to afford the same level of protection to contracting parties who are foreign nationals, as they would to their own nationals. According to Dr Kamil Idris, Director General of WIPO, the Paris Convention enables countries to offer their own citizens access to the intellectual property protection systems in foreign states. The broad application of the Paris Convention encompasses the following:   

• patents
• marks
• industrial designs
• utility models
• trade names
• geographical indications, and
• the repression of unfair competition.

For further information please visit the WIPO website.

For more information please contact

Name : Duncan Giles
Title : Special Counsel
Office : Sydney
Phone : +61 2 9225 5954
Fax : +61 2 9322 4000
Email : duncan.giles@freehills.com