WIPO Lex: IP Law at your Fingertips

• Pages: 6-7

2012 / 1p–6 / IP Resources

If you are an inventor, creator, entrepreneur or investor seeking to break into new

markets, quick, easy and cost-free acces s to information about how the law protects

your work, your intellectual proper ty (IP), or your freedom to operate in different

countries offers dis tinct advantages. For this reason, WIPO is spe arheading the

development of WIPO Lex, a publicly avail able, online database that makes informa-

tion about the current status of IP l aws and treaties in 197 countries and jurisdictions

easily accessible.

The international IP lands cape is constantly changin g as countries pass new laws,

rules and regulations to spur i nnovation and creativity for economic growth; addre ss

prevailing needs; and meet internati onal commitments. WIPO Lex makes it possible

for everyone – from IP user s, policymakers and lawyers to researche rs and students

– to keep abreast of the latest developments i n IP law around the world. Access to

this information means that entre preneurs can better adapt their operations to new

legal developments and avoid a ny negative impacts; policymakers c an more easily

identify and ll ga ps in existing systems; and researchers and students can acce ss

a treasure trove of data to analyze and probe.

WIPO Lex currently contains over 10,000 legal do cuments. “It is a work in progress

and is expanding every d ay,” notes the project leader, Jessamyn Honculada. “WIPO

Lex is opening up a whole unive rse of IP legal systems,” she said, “making it pos-

sible to compare national IP regul atory frameworks and to identify their co mmon and

unique features at the touch of a key.” Another team member added, “the data base

provides many useful insig hts into the legal basis on which IP systems are s haped

and IP rights protected and promoted both national ly and internationally.”

BUILDING THE RESOURCE

WIPO Lex was initiated in 2010 in the context of a broader drive by the Organiza-

tion to narrow the global knowledg e gap by providing quick and easy acc ess to its

extensive collection of se archable IP data and tools. The unveiling, in June 2010, of

the WIPO GOLD platform (ww w.wipo.int/wipogold/en/), marked a signicant step

towards fullling this goal. It facilitates u niversal access to a broad range of valuable

information not only relating to IP laws and treati es (through WIPO Lex) but also to

technology, brands, designs, statistics a nd more.

The enthusiastic colla boration of hundreds of individuals from across the globe h as

fuelled the expansion of WIP O Lex’s data resources which will eventuall y include all

relevant treaties, statutes, laws and regulati ons relating to IP. “The willingness and

desire among information provi ders to make WIPO Lex a success has been palpable,”

the team notes. “Their shared be lief that credible, complete and author itative data

favor the development of a knowledg e environment that can enhanc e innovation

and creativity has made it possible for us to develop a comprehensive and reliable

IP legal resource acce ssible to all,“ they added.

WIPO LEX

IP law at your ngertips

2010 20 11

1USA USA

2France France

3Spain Spain

4United Kingdom Mexico

5Mexico India

6Germany United Kingdom

7India China

8Colombia Peru

9Switzerland Colombia

10 Canada Germany

WIPO Lex pa ge views rose sh arply in 2011

800’000

1’000’000

1’200’000

1’400’000

1’600’000

2009 2010 2011

Page views

Top 10 WIPO Lex user co untries