• WIPO is one of the oldest specialised agencies of United Nations.
• It is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.
• WIPO was created in 1967 “to encourage creative activity, to promote the protection of intellectual property throughout the world”.
• Every year World Intellectual Property Day is being celebrated on 26th April.
• WIPO’s predecessor was the United International Bureaux for the Protection of Intellectual Property (BIPRI).
• BIPRI administered 2 conventions – Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property and Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works. BIRPI is thus transformed to become WIPO.
• WIPO administers 26 treaties including the WIPO Convention.
• Marrakesh Treaty of WIPO – It is to facilitate access to published works for persons who are blind, visually impaired and print disabled.
• India was the first country to sign this treaty.
• The governments that are party to the Marrakesh treaty are obliged to adopt laws authorizing the conversion of books into accessible formats such as braille, e-text, audio and large print by designated organizations.

India and WIPO

• India in the recent past include accession to the WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty and WIPO Copyright Treaty (collectively known as the WIPO Internet Treaties) in 2018.
• The treaty is a Special agreement under Berne Convention and extends coverage of copyright to the internet and digital environment.
• The treaty came to force in 2002 and has been adopted by 96 contracting parties till date