WIPO, the World Intellectual Property Organization, is still working on managing IP services, such as domain name disputes.
Based in Geneva, Switzerland, the organization has transitioned its services mostly online, with only a “small pool” of its key staff remaining in the Geneva headquarters.
The cause of this is the Coronavirus pandemic, that has forced many businesses and organizations to transition to home-office operations.
The latest newsletter from the WIPO describes this in detail:
Covid-19 Update: WIPO’s IP Services
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is continuing operations under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), the Madrid System for the International Registration of Marks, the Hague System for the International Registration of Industrial Designs, the Lisbon System for the International Registration of Geographical Indications as well as administering other intellectual property (IP) and related systems.
WIPO’s Arbitration and Mediation Center (AMC) is also continuing its important work in processing domain name disputes under the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP) and other alternative dispute resolution cases.
WIPO has activated its business continuity protocol and moved to an almost entirely virtual work presence, with only a small pool of personnel retaining access to our Geneva, Switzerland headquarters. This is in line with public health authorities’ guidance to curb the further spread of Covid-19.
We are committed to ensuring that any transitional issues experienced by users, IP offices and any other stakeholders in our processes are kept to a minimum despite these extenuating circumstances.
As WIPO has previously communicated, its offices are physically closed for non-essential staff and all meetings are postponed or canceled through the end of April, with updates to follow.
