Legal Definitions - International Bureau for the Protection of Intellectual Property

The International Bureau for the Protection of Intellectual Property, also known as BIRPI, was a predecessor of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). It was created by combining the Secretariat of the Paris Convention (the International Bureau for the Paris Convention) with the Berne Copyright Convention of 1886. The bureau was supervised by the Swiss government until 1970, when it became part of WIPO.

Intellectual property refers to creations of the mind, such as inventions, literary and artistic works, and symbols, names, and images used in commerce. The purpose of the International Bureau for the Protection of Intellectual Property was to help protect these creations and ensure that their creators were given the rights and recognition they deserved.

For example, if someone invents a new machine, they can apply for a patent to protect their invention from being copied by others. The International Bureau for the Protection of Intellectual Property would help them with the application process and ensure that their patent was recognized and enforced in other countries.