Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property

The Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property is an international treaty that was first signed in Paris, France, in 1883. It is one of the oldest and most significant international agreements in the field of intellectual property (IP). The convention aims to promote and harmonise the protection of industrial property rights, including patents, trademarks, industrial designs, and trade secrets, among its member countries.

National treatment: The Paris Convention provides the principle of national treatment, which means that member countries must provide foreign applicants with the same level of protection as their own nationals. This ensures that inventors, creators, and businesses from member countries are not discriminated against when seeking IP protection in other member countries.

Right of priority: The convention introduced the concept of the right of priority. Under this principle, an applicant who has filed an application for an IP right in one member country has a specified period (usually 12 months) to file subsequent applications in other member countries and claim the priority date of the first filing. This allows applicants to secure an earlier priority date for their IP rights internationally.

Patents: The Paris Convention establishes minimum standards for patent protection, including the criteria of novelty, inventive step, and industrial applicability. It provides a framework for filing patent applications, claiming priority, and granting patents in member countries.

Trademarks: The convention sets out principles for the registration and protection of trademarks. It includes provisions on the registration process, duration of protection, and the use of trademarks. It also encourages the adoption of common practices and the sharing of information among member countries.

Industrial designs: The Paris Convention addresses the protection of industrial designs, including two-dimensional and three-dimensional designs. It establishes standards for the registration and examination of industrial designs, as well as the term of protection.

Enforcement and dispute resolution: The convention does not directly deal with enforcement mechanisms or dispute resolution. However, it encourages member countries to establish effective systems for enforcing IP rights and provides a framework for resolving disputes between countries.

Membership and amendments: The Paris Convention has been widely adopted by countries around the world. As of September 2021, it has 177 member countries. The convention has undergone several revisions and amendments to keep pace with evolving technologies and global IP challenges.

The Paris Convention serves as a foundation for international IP law and provides a framework for cooperation and harmonisation among member countries. It has been an instrumental treaty in facilitating the protection and promotion of industrial property rights globally.
Back to blog
UOLLB SQE Turbocharge

UOLLB SQE Turbocharge

Get ready for the SQE1 with high-performance SQE Study Guides developed by UOLLB and published by UOL Press to revolutionise your study method and exam strategy.

Turbocharge SQE Performance

UOL Case Bank

Upon joining, you become a valuable UOL student and gain instant access to over 2,100 essential case summaries. UOL Case Bank is constantly expanding.
Speed up your revision with us now👇

Subscribe Now

Where are our students from?

Council of Europe
Crown Prosecution Service
Baker Mckenzie 
Yale University
University of Chicago
Columbia University
New York University
University of Michigan 
INSEAD
University of London
University College London (UCL)
London School of Economics (LSE)
King’s College London (KCL)
Royal Holloway, University of London 
Birkbeck, University of London
SOAS, University of London
University of Manchester
University of Zurich
University of York
Brandeis University
University of Exeter
University of Sheffield
Boston University
University of Washington
University of Leeds
University of Law
University of Kent
University of Hull
Queen’s University Belfast
Toronto Metropolitan University
Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
University of Buckingham
ESSEC Business School

  • Criminal Practice

    Diagrams and Charts

    Our carefully designed diagrams and charts will guide you through complex legal issues.

  • Criminal Law

    Clear and Succinct Definitions

    Key concepts are concisely defined to help you understand legal topics quickly.

  • Property Law

    Statutory Provisions

    Statutory provisions are provided side by side with legal concepts to help you swiftly locate the relevant legislation.

  • Public Law

    Case Summaries

    We have summarised important cases for you so that you don't need to read long and boring cases.

  • Evidence

    Rules and Exceptions

    Rules and exceptions are clearly listed so that you know when a rule applies and when it doesn't.

  • Company Law

    Terminology

    Legal terms and key concepts are explained at the beginning of each chapter to help you learn efficiently.

  • Case Law

    Case law is provided side by side with legal concepts so that you know how legal principles and precedents were established.

  • Law Exam Guide

    Law Essay Guide

    You will learn essential law exam skills and essay writing techniques that are not taught in class.

  • Law Exam Guide

    Problem Question Guide

    We will show you how to answer problem questions step by step to achieve first-class results.

  • Conflict of Laws

    Structured Explanations

    Complex legal concepts are broken down into concise and digestible bullet point explanations.

  • Legal System and Method

    Legal Research

    You will learn legal research techniques with our study guide and become a proficient legal researcher.

  • Jurisprudence and Legal Theory

    Exam-focused

    All essential concepts, principles, and case law are included so that you can answer exam questions quickly.