A list of web references is provided for teachers and students to use in all activities. It is one of 16 specialized agencies of the United Nations organization. WIPO is responsible for promoting the protection of intellectual property throughout the world through cooperation among States, and for administering the various multilateral treaties dealing with the legal and administrative aspects of intellectual property. In this chapter, we will explore ways in which the mission of WIPO, an internationally recognized authority on intellectual property, has been implemented. In addition, we will present some classroom activities for learning more about intellectual property.
Intellectual property is the information that makes it possible for businesses to earn money.
Business assets are protected by laws that state that the people who created the property have exclusive rights to use that property for any purpose, but most often for profit. A trademark is a symbol or brand that is owned by the person who created it. In the United States, a patent guarantees that an inventor owns the rights to profit made from an invention for 17 years. A copyright means legal and exclusive rights to written material, either published or unpublished. Industrial property refers chiefly to inventions, trademarks, industrial designs and appellations of origin.