PARIS CONVENTION FOR THE PROTECTION OF INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY Meaning and
Definition
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The Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property is an international treaty that aims to protect intellectual property, particularly industrial property, across national borders. It was first signed in Paris, France, in 1883 and has been revised multiple times since then to adapt to changing technologies and global trade norms.
This convention establishes certain basic principles and norms for the protection of various forms of intellectual property, including patents, trademarks, and industrial designs. Its primary objective is to ensure that inventors, designers, and creators are granted adequate protection for their industrial property rights in any member country of the convention. It achieves this by establishing standards and procedures for the registration, maintenance, and recognition of patents and trademarks in member nations.
The Paris Convention applies the principle of national treatment, requiring member countries to treat foreign inventors and creators on the same terms as their own nationals. It also introduces the concept of priority right, which allows applicants to claim a priority date based on the filing of an earlier application in a member country. Priority rights enable applicants to secure protection for their intellectual property in multiple countries while retaining the original filing date.
Overall, the Paris Convention strengthens the legal framework for protecting industrial property internationally and encourages cooperation among member countries to foster innovation, creativity, and technological progress.
