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Cancilleria de Colombia

Misión permanente de Colombia ante las Naciones Unidas en Ginebra

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World Intellectual Property Organization - WIPO

Specialized organization of the United Nations, created in 1970, following the entry into force of the 1967 WIPO Convention. It has one hundred eighty eight (188) Member States. Colombia is member since May, 1980. It administers 26 multilateral treaties, Colombia being Member State in twelve (12) of them. The Permanent Mission of Colombia to the UN in Geneva is in charge of the representation before the Organization, and the Ambassador to the World Trade Organization – WTO - acts as the Deputy Permanent Representative to WIPO.

WIPO is the main intergovernmental organization dedicated to the promotion and use of the intellectual property. Its mission is to lead the development of a balanced and effective international intellectual property (IP). Its mission is to lead the development of a balanced and effective international IP system that enables innovation and creativity for the benefit of all.

In addition, WIPO provides global IP services under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), Madrid, Hague and Lisbon systems. Colombia is a member of the first two. The Organization also provides arbitration, mediation and other alternative dispute resolution services. 
The Organization also assists governments in promoting the protection of intellectual property (development of national strategies in I.P and innovation, regulatory frameworks, technical infrastructure and human capacity, among others).
 
Colombia in WIPO
 
According to the constitutional Convention, the main bodies of the WIPO are the General Assembly, the Conference and the Coordination Committee. Furthermore, there are a number of unions established by other treaties, such as the Union of the Patent Cooperation Treaty – PCT or the Madrid Union. There are also permanent committees and working groups, which are devoted to limited missions and within a limited timeframe. Their aim is to facilitate the debate and the settlement of certain technical or confidential issues.
 
Colombia participates in the following Governing Bodies:
  1. The WIPO General Assembly.
  2. The WIPO Conference.
  3. The WIPO Coordination Committee (Colombia is a member for the 2014-2016 term).
  4. The PTC Union Assembly.
  5. The Madrid Union Assembly.                                                      

Colombia participates in the following Standing Committees:

  1. Standing Committee on the Law of Patents (SCP)
  2. Standing Committee on the Law of Trademarks, Industrial Designs and Geographical Indications (SCT)
  3. Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights (SCCR)

Colombia participates in the following Permanent Committees:

  1. Program and Budget Committee (PBC) – Colombia is a member for the 2014-2016 term and currently holds the Chairmanship
  2. Committee on Development and Intellectual Property (CDIP)
  3. Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore (IGC)
  4. Advisory Committee on Enforcement (ACE)

Colombia participates in the following Working Groups:

  1. Working Group on the Legal Development of the Madrid System for the International Registration of Marks
  2. Working Group on the Development of the Lisbon System (Appellations of Origin) - as an Observer.

Currently, Colombia takes active part in the negotiations within the Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore, with the objective of reaching an agreement on the text of an international legal instrument (or several of them) that ensures the effective protection of traditional knowledge, traditional cultural expressions and genetic resources.

Likewise, Colombia participates in the negotiations within the Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights, which includes, among others, a possible treaty on the protection of broadcasting organizations.

Statements of Colombia

Colombia has a National Administrative System on Intellectual Propriety, constituted through the Decree 1162, issued on the 13th of April, 2010. The System encompasses a group of policies, guidelines, norms, activities, resources, programs and public and private institutions related to Intellectual Property.

Through such Decree, the Intersectoral Commission of Intellectual Property was created, functioning as the supreme body for coordination and orientation. The different entities that make up the Commission gather periodically, inter alia, in order to draft the instructions for Colombia’s participation vis-à-vis the different WIPO Committees.

PDF: Declaración general de Colombia en la Asamblea 09/2013

PDF: Declaración general de Colombia en la Asamblea 09/2014