Legal Definitions - Berne-plus

Definition: Berne-plus is a term used in copyright law to describe a treaty provision that offers more protection for intellectual property than what is required by the Berne Convention. This can be achieved by granting stronger rights or extending protection to new forms of subject matter.

Example: During negotiations over the TRIPs Agreement, the term Berne-plus was used to reflect the idea that the treaty should incorporate and build on existing international law. The WIPO treaties are considered Berne-plus treaties because they not only include the protections offered by the Berne Convention but also add additional protections of their own.

This means that countries that sign on to these treaties are agreeing to provide more protection for intellectual property than what is required by the Berne Convention. This can be beneficial for creators and owners of intellectual property, as it can help prevent others from using or copying their work without permission.